Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 394 · 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.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the timekeeper (c) the last speech (d) the topic statement
2. 2.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
4. 4.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
7. 7.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) no clear meaning (c) two sides to argue (d) a hidden answer
8. 8.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
9. 9.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
14. 14.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
15. 15.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
17. 17.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the opposition
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
27. 27.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
28. 28.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
32. 32.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
33. 33.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.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”
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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