Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 351 · 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 disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
2. 2.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
3. 3.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) no clear meaning (c) a hidden answer (d) two sides to argue
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
5. 5.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
6. 6.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
7. 7.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the timekeeper (c) the topic statement (d) the winner’s prize
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
10. 10.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
11. 11.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Breaking news…”
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
16. 16.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
17. 17.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
22. 22.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
26. 26.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
29. 29.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
30. 30.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
31. 31.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
34. 34.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the proposition
39. 39.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion

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