Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 669 · 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 winner’s prize (b) the timekeeper (c) the topic statement (d) the last speech
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
4. 4.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
7. 7.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Breaking news…”
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
9. 9.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
10. 10.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the audience
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
12. 12.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
13. 13.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
19. 19.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) two sides to argue (c) one right answer (d) a hidden answer
20. 20.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
24. 24.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition
27. 27.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
30. 30.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
36. 36.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
37. 37.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
39. 39.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
40. 40.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True

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