Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 785 · 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 is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
2. 2.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) must prove the motion
3. 3.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the proposition
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
8. 8.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
14. 14.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
15. 15.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.🔍 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
17. 17.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
26. 26.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
28. 28.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
29. 29.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the last speech (c) the topic statement (d) the timekeeper
30. 30.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
33. 33.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the opposition
34. 34.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
39. 39.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
40. 40.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition

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