Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 693 · 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 for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
2. 2.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
5. 5.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
6. 6.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the winner’s prize (c) the topic statement (d) the timekeeper
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
8. 8.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
16. 16.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the audience
17. 17.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
19. 19.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
20. 20.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
21. 21.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
26. 26.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
27. 27.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
28. 28.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
35. 35.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) a hidden answer (c) no clear meaning (d) two sides to argue
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the proposition

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