Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 825 · 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 for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the judges
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
3. 3.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
8. 8.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
10. 10.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
20. 20.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
21. 21.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
24. 24.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the winner’s prize (c) the topic statement (d) the timekeeper
25. 25.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Dear diary…”
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (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.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
33. 33.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
34. 34.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
35. 35.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
36. 36.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
37. 37.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) no clear meaning (c) a hidden answer (d) one right answer
38. 38.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
40. 40.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion

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