Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 871 · 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) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
2. 2.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
3. 3.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
4. 4.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
5. 5.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
7. 7.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the topic statement (c) the timekeeper (d) the winner’s prize
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
9. 9.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the audience
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) one right answer (c) two sides to argue (d) no clear meaning
13. 13.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
18. 18.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
20. 20.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
23. 23.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the audience
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
26. 26.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
31. 31.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
34. 34.🔍 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
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
39. 39.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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