Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 923 · 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) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
4. 4.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the topic statement (c) the timekeeper (d) the winner’s prize
5. 5.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
7. 7.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
8. 8.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
9. 9.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
10. 10.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) no clear meaning (c) a hidden answer (d) two sides to argue
11. 11.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
14. 14.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
15. 15.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
18. 18.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the proposition
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the proposition
26. 26.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
29. 29.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
30. 30.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Breaking news…”
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
35. 35.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False

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