Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 949 · 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) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
2. 2.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
6. 6.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
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.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
9. 9.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
10. 10.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
13. 13.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
14. 14.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) one right answer (c) two sides to argue (d) a hidden answer
15. 15.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
17. 17.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
18. 18.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
20. 20.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the judges
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
24. 24.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
25. 25.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
33. 33.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words

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