Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 63 · 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 winner’s prize (d) the topic statement
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
7. 7.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Breaking news…”
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the opposition
15. 15.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
17. 17.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
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
19. 19.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
20. 20.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
21. 21.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) no clear meaning (c) two sides to argue (d) a hidden answer
24. 24.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
26. 26.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
28. 28.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the audience
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True

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