Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 944 · 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.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
3. 3.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
4. 4.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
7. 7.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) one right answer (c) two sides to argue (d) a hidden answer
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
10. 10.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
11. 11.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the topic statement (c) the timekeeper (d) the winner’s prize
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
21. 21.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
22. 22.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
24. 24.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
25. 25.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
26. 26.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the judges
27. 27.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Breaking news…”
28. 28.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
32. 32.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
38. 38.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
40. 40.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition

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