Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 424 · 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 is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
4. 4.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
7. 7.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) two sides to argue (c) one right answer (d) a hidden answer
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
10. 10.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
11. 11.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
12. 12.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
14. 14.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
16. 16.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
17. 17.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
19. 19.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
20. 20.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
21. 21.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
31. 31.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
32. 32.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the winner’s prize (c) the timekeeper (d) the last speech
33. 33.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
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.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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