Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 49 · 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 believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
2. 2.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
3. 3.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the audience
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
6. 6.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) no clear meaning (c) one right answer (d) a hidden answer
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
13. 13.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
14. 14.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
15. 15.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the topic statement (c) the timekeeper (d) the last speech
17. 17.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
20. 20.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
26. 26.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
27. 27.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
28. 28.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
30. 30.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
31. 31.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “This House…”
37. 37.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
40. 40.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition

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