Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 931 · 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) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
2. 2.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
3. 3.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
7. 7.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) a hidden answer (c) no clear meaning (d) one right answer
8. 8.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
9. 9.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
11. 11.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the topic statement (c) the winner’s prize (d) the timekeeper
12. 12.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
14. 14.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
15. 15.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
17. 17.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the opposition
19. 19.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
22. 22.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) is for 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.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
28. 28.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
33. 33.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
37. 37.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
38. 38.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
39. 39.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False

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