Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 890 · 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.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the last speech (c) the timekeeper (d) the winner’s prize
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
3. 3.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
8. 8.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the opposition
9. 9.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Breaking news…”
12. 12.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
15. 15.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
17. 17.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
18. 18.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the proposition
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
22. 22.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
25. 25.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
26. 26.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
33. 33.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
35. 35.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
38. 38.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True

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