Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 939 · 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) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
4. 4.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
7. 7.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
8. 8.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
10. 10.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
14. 14.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the timekeeper (c) the winner’s prize (d) the topic statement
15. 15.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
16. 16.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
17. 17.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
22. 22.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
23. 23.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) no clear meaning (c) two sides to argue (d) a hidden answer
27. 27.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
30. 30.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
35. 35.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False

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