Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 839 · 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 judges (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.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
10. 10.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
12. 12.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
13. 13.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
15. 15.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
17. 17.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
20. 20.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
22. 22.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
23. 23.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) no clear meaning (c) a hidden answer (d) one right answer
24. 24.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
27. 27.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the topic statement (c) the winner’s prize (d) the last speech
28. 28.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
31. 31.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
35. 35.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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