Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 77 · 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 of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
2. 2.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the topic statement (c) the winner’s prize (d) the last speech
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
4. 4.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
7. 7.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
11. 11.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
12. 12.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
14. 14.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
16. 16.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
17. 17.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
19. 19.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
23. 23.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
24. 24.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
25. 25.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the audience
26. 26.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
28. 28.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
29. 29.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
33. 33.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
35. 35.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) no clear meaning (c) two sides to argue (d) one right answer

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