Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 760 · 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) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
2. 2.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the proposition
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must prove the motion
5. 5.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
7. 7.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
8. 8.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
9. 9.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
11. 11.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
12. 12.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
14. 14.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the judges
15. 15.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
18. 18.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the timekeeper (c) the last speech (d) the topic statement
20. 20.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) two sides to argue (c) a hidden answer (d) no clear meaning
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
24. 24.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
29. 29.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
30. 30.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
31. 31.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
33. 33.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
34. 34.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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