Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 375 · 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 of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
3. 3.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
4. 4.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the judges
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) one right answer (c) two sides to argue (d) no clear meaning
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
8. 8.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
15. 15.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
17. 17.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the topic statement (c) the last speech (d) the timekeeper
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
20. 20.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Dear diary…”
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
22. 22.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
24. 24.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
26. 26.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition
27. 27.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
28. 28.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
33. 33.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True

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