Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 725 · 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.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) no clear meaning (c) two sides to argue (d) one right answer
2. 2.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the last speech (c) the topic statement (d) the winner’s prize
3. 3.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
5. 5.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
7. 7.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
15. 15.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
16. 16.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
17. 17.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” 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) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
24. 24.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
27. 27.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
28. 28.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
32. 32.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
33. 33.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the audience
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
35. 35.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
36. 36.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
39. 39.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False

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