Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 431 · 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.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
2. 2.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the opposition
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
7. 7.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the topic statement (c) the timekeeper (d) the winner’s prize
8. 8.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
10. 10.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
11. 11.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
14. 14.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
15. 15.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
17. 17.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
18. 18.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
19. 19.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
20. 20.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
21. 21.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) one right answer (c) two sides to argue (d) a hidden answer
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
24. 24.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”
25. 25.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “This House…”
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
34. 34.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
35. 35.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
38. 38.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
39. 39.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True

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