Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 768 · 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 propose” (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
4. 4.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
5. 5.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
6. 6.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) a hidden answer (c) one right answer (d) two sides to argue
7. 7.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
8. 8.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
9. 9.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
10. 10.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the topic statement (c) the last speech (d) the timekeeper
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
15. 15.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
17. 17.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the proposition
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
19. 19.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
28. 28.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
29. 29.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
33. 33.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
35. 35.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
39. 39.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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