Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 628 · 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 is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
2. 2.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
3. 3.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) a hidden answer (c) no clear meaning (d) two sides to argue
4. 4.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
5. 5.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
6. 6.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “This House…”
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
11. 11.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
12. 12.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
13. 13.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the timekeeper (c) the last speech (d) the topic statement
14. 14.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the audience
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
17. 17.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
27. 27.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
29. 29.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
32. 32.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
34. 34.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) must prove the motion
38. 38.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
39. 39.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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