Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 214 · 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) one right answer (c) a hidden answer (d) two sides to argue
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
3. 3.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
8. 8.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
9. 9.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
14. 14.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the proposition
15. 15.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
17. 17.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
19. 19.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the last speech (c) the winner’s prize (d) the timekeeper
20. 20.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
22. 22.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must prove the motion
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
33. 33.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Breaking news…”
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
35. 35.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
38. 38.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
40. 40.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition

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