Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 621 · 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) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
5. 5.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Dear diary…”
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
7. 7.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
9. 9.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
12. 12.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
13. 13.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the audience
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
17. 17.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the winner’s prize (c) the last speech (d) the timekeeper
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
24. 24.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
25. 25.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
29. 29.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) a hidden answer (c) no clear meaning (d) one right answer
30. 30.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
36. 36.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
37. 37.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False

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