Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 815 · 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) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
2. 2.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
4. 4.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
5. 5.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the audience
6. 6.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
7. 7.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
13. 13.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
14. 14.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
16. 16.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
17. 17.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
19. 19.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the topic statement (c) the last speech (d) the winner’s prize
23. 23.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
24. 24.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
26. 26.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
27. 27.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
29. 29.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
30. 30.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
36. 36.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
37. 37.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False

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