Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 220 · 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 side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
2. 2.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
5. 5.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
7. 7.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
9. 9.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the timekeeper (c) the last speech (d) the topic statement
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
13. 13.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) a hidden answer (c) two sides to argue (d) no clear meaning
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
16. 16.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
17. 17.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
19. 19.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
20. 20.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
21. 21.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
22. 22.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the opposition

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