Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 886 · 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 oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
2. 2.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
3. 3.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
4. 4.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Breaking news…”
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
8. 8.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
9. 9.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) no clear meaning (c) two sides to argue (d) one right answer
10. 10.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
14. 14.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
18. 18.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the topic statement (c) the last speech (d) the timekeeper
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
20. 20.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
28. 28.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
33. 33.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
34. 34.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
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
37. 37.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
38. 38.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”

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