Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 977 · 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.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
2. 2.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
8. 8.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”
9. 9.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
10. 10.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
14. 14.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
16. 16.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
17. 17.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
19. 19.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
20. 20.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the last speech (c) the timekeeper (d) the winner’s prize
21. 21.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
29. 29.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
31. 31.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
32. 32.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
33. 33.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
34. 34.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
37. 37.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
40. 40.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True

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