Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 521 · 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 of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
6. 6.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
7. 7.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the proposition
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
10. 10.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
13. 13.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the timekeeper (c) the winner’s prize (d) the topic statement
14. 14.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
18. 18.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
19. 19.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the audience
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
23. 23.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
24. 24.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
29. 29.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) two sides to argue (c) no clear meaning (d) one right answer
30. 30.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
31. 31.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
33. 33.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
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.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition

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