Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 942 · 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) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
2. 2.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
5. 5.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
6. 6.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the audience
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
9. 9.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
10. 10.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Dear diary…”
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
14. 14.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
15. 15.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
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) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
19. 19.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
20. 20.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
21. 21.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
22. 22.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
25. 25.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the last speech (c) the winner’s prize (d) the topic statement
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.🔍 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”
28. 28.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
29. 29.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
30. 30.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
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) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words

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