Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 136 · 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) two sides to argue (c) a hidden answer (d) one right answer
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
4. 4.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
5. 5.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
6. 6.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
10. 10.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the winner’s prize (c) the timekeeper (d) the topic statement
11. 11.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must prove the motion
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
14. 14.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the audience
15. 15.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
16. 16.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
19. 19.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
20. 20.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
26. 26.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
28. 28.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
29. 29.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
35. 35.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
37. 37.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
40. 40.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion

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