Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 369 · 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.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
2. 2.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
8. 8.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
9. 9.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
11. 11.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
12. 12.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
14. 14.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
15. 15.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
18. 18.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) a hidden answer (c) one right answer (d) two sides to argue
19. 19.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
27. 27.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the winner’s prize (c) the topic statement (d) the last speech
28. 28.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
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.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
38. 38.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition

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