Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 865 · 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 of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
3. 3.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the last speech (c) the winner’s prize (d) the timekeeper
4. 4.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
7. 7.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must prove the motion
9. 9.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Dear diary…”
10. 10.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
15. 15.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
16. 16.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
18. 18.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
19. 19.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the opposition
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
22. 22.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
23. 23.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
27. 27.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
28. 28.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
29. 29.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) two sides to argue (c) one right answer (d) no clear meaning
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”

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