Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 448 · 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) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
2. 2.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
4. 4.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
6. 6.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the timekeeper (c) the last speech (d) the winner’s prize
7. 7.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
9. 9.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
10. 10.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
12. 12.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
15. 15.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the proposition
16. 16.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
17. 17.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
19. 19.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
20. 20.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
21. 21.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
22. 22.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
25. 25.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) no clear meaning (c) a hidden answer (d) two sides to argue
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
27. 27.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
36. 36.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion

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