Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 350 · 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.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) two sides to argue (c) no clear meaning (d) one right answer
2. 2.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the timekeeper (c) the last speech (d) the winner’s prize
3. 3.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
4. 4.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
8. 8.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
10. 10.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
15. 15.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
18. 18.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
19. 19.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
21. 21.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
26. 26.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
29. 29.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the judges
30. 30.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
35. 35.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
38. 38.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
40. 40.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion

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