Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 860 · 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 proposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the opposition
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
3. 3.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the timekeeper (c) the last speech (d) the topic statement
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
5. 5.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
6. 6.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
9. 9.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
10. 10.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) a hidden answer (c) two sides to argue (d) one right answer
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
13. 13.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
16. 16.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
18. 18.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
22. 22.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Dear diary…”
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
26. 26.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the judges
28. 28.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
33. 33.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
35. 35.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
36. 36.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
37. 37.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False

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