Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 909 · 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) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
3. 3.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
5. 5.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
6. 6.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
7. 7.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the winner’s prize (c) the timekeeper (d) the topic statement
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
9. 9.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Breaking news…”
10. 10.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
13. 13.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
16. 16.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”
17. 17.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) one right answer (c) a hidden answer (d) two sides to argue
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
21. 21.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
23. 23.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
27. 27.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
28. 28.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
29. 29.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
30. 30.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the audience
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True

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