Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 138 · 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) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must prove the motion
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
4. 4.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
5. 5.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) a hidden answer (c) two sides to argue (d) no clear meaning
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
10. 10.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the timekeeper (c) the last speech (d) the topic statement
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
14. 14.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
23. 23.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
25. 25.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
27. 27.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
28. 28.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
30. 30.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
38. 38.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
39. 39.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True

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