Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 821 · 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 answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
2. 2.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
3. 3.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
4. 4.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
6. 6.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
7. 7.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
9. 9.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
15. 15.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the last speech (c) the topic statement (d) the timekeeper
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
20. 20.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
22. 22.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) no clear meaning (c) a hidden answer (d) one right answer
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
25. 25.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the opposition
26. 26.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must prove the motion
27. 27.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Breaking news…”
29. 29.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
30. 30.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
33. 33.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
35. 35.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
36. 36.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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