Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 829 · 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 proposition (b) the opposition
2. 2.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
3. 3.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
7. 7.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
9. 9.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “This House…”
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
11. 11.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
12. 12.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
16. 16.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
17. 17.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the winner’s prize (c) the topic statement (d) the timekeeper
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
22. 22.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
23. 23.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
24. 24.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
26. 26.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
28. 28.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the audience
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
32. 32.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
33. 33.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) two sides to argue (c) a hidden answer (d) one right answer
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
36. 36.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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