Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 804 · 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.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the timekeeper (c) the topic statement (d) the winner’s prize
2. 2.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the judges
3. 3.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
5. 5.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
7. 7.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
8. 8.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
9. 9.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) one right answer (c) a hidden answer (d) no clear meaning
10. 10.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
18. 18.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
19. 19.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
25. 25.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
26. 26.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
30. 30.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
31. 31.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
33. 33.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
34. 34.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
38. 38.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False

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