Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 803 · 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.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
5. 5.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the proposition
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
9. 9.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition
13. 13.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
17. 17.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
22. 22.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
23. 23.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
24. 24.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the opposition
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
27. 27.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
28. 28.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
29. 29.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the timekeeper (c) the last speech (d) the winner’s prize
37. 37.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Dear diary…”
39. 39.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
40. 40.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion

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