Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 299 · 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) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
2. 2.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) no clear meaning (c) a hidden answer (d) two sides to argue
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
8. 8.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
9. 9.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
10. 10.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Breaking news…”
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
14. 14.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
16. 16.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the winner’s prize (c) the last speech (d) the topic statement
17. 17.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
20. 20.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
26. 26.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
27. 27.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
28. 28.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
31. 31.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition

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