Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 779 · 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) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the audience
4. 4.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the timekeeper (c) the last speech (d) the winner’s prize
7. 7.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
8. 8.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
10. 10.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
13. 13.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) a hidden answer (c) two sides to argue (d) no clear meaning
14. 14.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the opposition
15. 15.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
16. 16.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
17. 17.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
18. 18.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
19. 19.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
20. 20.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
25. 25.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
28. 28.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
36. 36.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
37. 37.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion

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