Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 321 · 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) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
2. 2.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) one right answer (c) two sides to argue (d) a hidden answer
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
4. 4.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
5. 5.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
7. 7.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
8. 8.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
9. 9.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
10. 10.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
12. 12.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
13. 13.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
16. 16.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
17. 17.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
20. 20.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
21. 21.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the last speech (c) the topic statement (d) the timekeeper
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
24. 24.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
25. 25.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
26. 26.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the audience
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True

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