Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 641 · 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 of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
8. 8.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) a hidden answer (c) two sides to argue (d) one right answer
9. 9.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “This House…”
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
13. 13.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
15. 15.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
16. 16.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
20. 20.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
21. 21.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
22. 22.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the winner’s prize (c) the last speech (d) the timekeeper
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
28. 28.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
32. 32.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
33. 33.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
37. 37.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
38. 38.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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