Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 570 · 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) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
4. 4.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
10. 10.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Dear diary…”
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
14. 14.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
15. 15.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
16. 16.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
17. 17.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
19. 19.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
22. 22.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
23. 23.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
24. 24.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) a hidden answer (c) no clear meaning (d) one right answer
25. 25.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
27. 27.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
28. 28.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
32. 32.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the opposition
33. 33.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the last speech (c) the timekeeper (d) the topic statement
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
35. 35.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
37. 37.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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