Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 491 · 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 side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
2. 2.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
3. 3.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
8. 8.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) must prove the motion
10. 10.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
11. 11.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) one right answer (c) no clear meaning (d) a hidden answer
12. 12.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Breaking news…”
13. 13.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
16. 16.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
18. 18.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
19. 19.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
22. 22.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
25. 25.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the last speech (c) the topic statement (d) the timekeeper
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
28. 28.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
29. 29.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the audience
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
38. 38.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”

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