Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 772 · 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.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) no clear meaning (c) a hidden answer (d) two sides to argue
4. 4.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
6. 6.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
8. 8.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
9. 9.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
10. 10.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
12. 12.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
15. 15.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
22. 22.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
23. 23.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
28. 28.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the topic statement (c) the last speech (d) the winner’s prize
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True

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