Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 161 · 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) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
3. 3.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
4. 4.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
5. 5.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
6. 6.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) a hidden answer (c) two sides to argue (d) one right answer
7. 7.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
8. 8.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the timekeeper (c) the winner’s prize (d) the last speech
9. 9.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “This House…”
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
16. 16.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
19. 19.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
20. 20.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) must prove the motion
22. 22.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
24. 24.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
25. 25.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the opposition
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
30. 30.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
36. 36.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
37. 37.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True

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