Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 960 · 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 replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
4. 4.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) a hidden answer (c) no clear meaning (d) two sides to argue
5. 5.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
7. 7.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
8. 8.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
12. 12.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the opposition
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
17. 17.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
20. 20.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
23. 23.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the winner’s prize (c) the last speech (d) the topic statement
24. 24.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.⚖️ Which side must prove 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.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
37. 37.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
38. 38.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition

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