Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 356 · 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 words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Breaking news…”
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
4. 4.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the proposition
5. 5.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
6. 6.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
7. 7.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
9. 9.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) no clear meaning (c) one right answer (d) two sides to argue
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
16. 16.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
18. 18.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
22. 22.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
23. 23.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the timekeeper (c) the winner’s prize (d) the last speech
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
30. 30.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
31. 31.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
32. 32.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
36. 36.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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