Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 129 · 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) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
2. 2.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
4. 4.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
6. 6.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
8. 8.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
10. 10.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
11. 11.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
13. 13.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
14. 14.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
16. 16.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
20. 20.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the judges
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
22. 22.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) two sides to argue (c) a hidden answer (d) one right answer
23. 23.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
24. 24.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the timekeeper (c) the topic statement (d) the winner’s prize
25. 25.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
37. 37.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
39. 39.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Breaking news…”
40. 40.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False

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