Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 938 · 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 winner’s prize (b) the topic statement (c) the timekeeper (d) the last speech
2. 2.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
3. 3.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
5. 5.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
7. 7.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
9. 9.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
12. 12.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
15. 15.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition
17. 17.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
18. 18.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
19. 19.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
20. 20.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
22. 22.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
23. 23.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
30. 30.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
33. 33.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) a hidden answer (c) one right answer (d) two sides to argue
34. 34.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
37. 37.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
38. 38.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
39. 39.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
40. 40.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True

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