Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 887 · 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 is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
2. 2.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) no clear meaning (c) a hidden answer (d) two sides to argue
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
5. 5.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
6. 6.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
7. 7.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
9. 9.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
11. 11.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) must prove the motion
15. 15.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
19. 19.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the winner’s prize (c) the topic statement (d) the timekeeper
20. 20.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the judges
21. 21.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
24. 24.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
25. 25.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
28. 28.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
29. 29.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “This House…”
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
31. 31.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
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
35. 35.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the opposition

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