Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 809 · 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 defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
2. 2.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
3. 3.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
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.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
7. 7.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
9. 9.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Breaking news…”
10. 10.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
11. 11.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
12. 12.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition
13. 13.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
14. 14.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
18. 18.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) a hidden answer (c) two sides to argue (d) no clear meaning
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
20. 20.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
21. 21.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
26. 26.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
28. 28.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
29. 29.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the last speech (c) the winner’s prize (d) the topic statement
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
40. 40.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition

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