Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 841 · 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.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) two sides to argue (c) a hidden answer (d) one right answer
2. 2.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
5. 5.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
10. 10.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
12. 12.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
15. 15.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
16. 16.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Dear diary…”
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
19. 19.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
20. 20.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
22. 22.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the timekeeper (c) the topic statement (d) the last speech
23. 23.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
24. 24.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
26. 26.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the opposition
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
28. 28.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
29. 29.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
30. 30.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
38. 38.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first

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