Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 817 · 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 says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
2. 2.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
4. 4.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
5. 5.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) two sides to argue (c) one right answer (d) no clear meaning
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
10. 10.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
13. 13.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
15. 15.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
17. 17.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
20. 20.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
22. 22.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
23. 23.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition
25. 25.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the timekeeper (c) the last speech (d) the topic statement
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
33. 33.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the judges
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
37. 37.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
38. 38.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
39. 39.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the audience
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”

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