Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 988 · 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.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) one right answer (c) a hidden answer (d) two sides to argue
2. 2.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
3. 3.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
4. 4.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
8. 8.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
10. 10.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
14. 14.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
20. 20.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
23. 23.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the judges
26. 26.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
28. 28.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
31. 31.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
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) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False

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