Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 650 · 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) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
4. 4.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the topic statement (c) the timekeeper (d) the winner’s prize
5. 5.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the proposition
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
7. 7.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
9. 9.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
10. 10.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
12. 12.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
13. 13.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
17. 17.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “This House…”
18. 18.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
20. 20.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
30. 30.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the opposition
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
37. 37.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
39. 39.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
40. 40.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”

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