Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 320 · 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 must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
2. 2.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
6. 6.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
10. 10.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
12. 12.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the timekeeper (c) the topic statement (d) the last speech
13. 13.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
16. 16.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “This House…”
19. 19.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the proposition
20. 20.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
21. 21.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
25. 25.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.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
29. 29.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) one right answer (c) no clear meaning (d) two sides to argue
30. 30.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
34. 34.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion

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