Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 128 · 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 against the motion (d) may test the definition
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
5. 5.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the topic statement (c) the winner’s prize (d) the last speech
6. 6.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
8. 8.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) no clear meaning (c) a hidden answer (d) one right answer
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
10. 10.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
14. 14.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Breaking news…”
15. 15.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
21. 21.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
22. 22.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
23. 23.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
26. 26.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
28. 28.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the judges
33. 33.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
35. 35.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
38. 38.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
39. 39.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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