Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 919 · 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 is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
2. 2.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
3. 3.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) a hidden answer (c) one right answer (d) no clear meaning
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
9. 9.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Breaking news…”
10. 10.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
14. 14.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
16. 16.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the topic statement (c) the timekeeper (d) the winner’s prize
17. 17.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
19. 19.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
20. 20.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
21. 21.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
25. 25.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the opposition
26. 26.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
28. 28.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
29. 29.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
33. 33.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
35. 35.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
36. 36.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition

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