Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 762 · 40 questions

Debater's tip (Two sides, one motion): Motion: the statement being debated, often starting “This House believes…” or “This House would…”. Proposition: for the motion, speaks first, defines the key words, ends “I beg to propose”. Opposition: against it, answers the proposition, ends “I beg to oppose”. Good debate topics for students have two real sides; a plain fact is not debatable.

1. 1.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
7. 7.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
8. 8.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
10. 10.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
12. 12.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
13. 13.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
14. 14.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
17. 17.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
19. 19.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
20. 20.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the winner’s prize (c) the timekeeper (d) the topic statement
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
29. 29.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the judges
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
32. 32.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
33. 33.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
34. 34.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
35. 35.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) must prove the motion
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
39. 39.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition

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