Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 765 · 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.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
3. 3.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
4. 4.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
6. 6.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
9. 9.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
13. 13.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “This House…”
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
15. 15.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
16. 16.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
17. 17.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the proposition
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
19. 19.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) no clear meaning (c) two sides to argue (d) one right answer
20. 20.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
22. 22.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
23. 23.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
24. 24.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
25. 25.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the timekeeper (c) the last speech (d) the winner’s prize
26. 26.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
30. 30.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
32. 32.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
39. 39.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”

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