Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 373 · 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) two sides to argue (b) one right answer (c) no clear meaning (d) a hidden answer
2. 2.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
4. 4.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
7. 7.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the opposition
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
9. 9.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
11. 11.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
15. 15.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the timekeeper (c) the topic statement (d) the last speech
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
21. 21.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “This House…”
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
27. 27.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
30. 30.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
31. 31.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
32. 32.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
33. 33.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
34. 34.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
37. 37.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
38. 38.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False

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