Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 780 · 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 side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
7. 7.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
16. 16.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
19. 19.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
22. 22.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
26. 26.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
29. 29.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
31. 31.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
35. 35.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
36. 36.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
37. 37.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
38. 38.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the winner’s prize (c) the topic statement (d) the timekeeper

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