Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 844 · 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.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
2. 2.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
4. 4.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
5. 5.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
7. 7.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the topic statement (c) the last speech (d) the winner’s prize
8. 8.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
10. 10.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
14. 14.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) two sides to argue (c) one right answer (d) no clear meaning
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
20. 20.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
22. 22.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
23. 23.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
24. 24.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
25. 25.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
27. 27.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
29. 29.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
33. 33.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the audience
35. 35.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
37. 37.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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