Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 850 · 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 proposition (b) the opposition
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
4. 4.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
5. 5.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
6. 6.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
7. 7.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
9. 9.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
10. 10.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
11. 11.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
14. 14.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
16. 16.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
17. 17.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) a hidden answer (c) two sides to argue (d) one right answer
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
20. 20.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the judges
21. 21.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
24. 24.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
28. 28.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
34. 34.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
36. 36.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
37. 37.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
40. 40.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion

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