Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 822 · 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 opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
2. 2.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
3. 3.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
4. 4.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
5. 5.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
7. 7.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
8. 8.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
12. 12.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
13. 13.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
14. 14.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the last speech (c) the timekeeper (d) the topic statement
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
25. 25.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
28. 28.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
31. 31.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
34. 34.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Breaking news…”
35. 35.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
36. 36.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True

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