Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 290 · 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 of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
3. 3.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
4. 4.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
5. 5.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the last speech (c) the timekeeper (d) the topic statement
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
9. 9.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “This House…”
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
14. 14.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
17. 17.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
20. 20.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the audience
26. 26.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
29. 29.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
38. 38.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
39. 39.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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