Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 929 · 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) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
2. 2.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the winner’s prize (c) the last speech (d) the topic statement
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
7. 7.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
10. 10.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) two sides to argue (c) one right answer (d) no clear meaning
11. 11.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
13. 13.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
18. 18.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
19. 19.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
20. 20.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
21. 21.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
24. 24.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
28. 28.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
30. 30.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
32. 32.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
33. 33.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
34. 34.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
40. 40.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”

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