Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 576 · 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.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the last speech (c) the topic statement (d) the winner’s prize
2. 2.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
7. 7.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
8. 8.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the proposition
9. 9.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
13. 13.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
14. 14.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
17. 17.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
18. 18.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
19. 19.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) one right answer (c) a hidden answer (d) two sides to argue
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
27. 27.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
33. 33.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
36. 36.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Dear diary…”
37. 37.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the opposition
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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