Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 980 · 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 timekeeper (b) the last speech (c) the topic statement (d) the winner’s prize
2. 2.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) one right answer (c) two sides to argue (d) no clear meaning
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
4. 4.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
6. 6.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
7. 7.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
8. 8.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) may test the definition
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
10. 10.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
12. 12.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
13. 13.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
15. 15.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Dear diary…”
16. 16.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
17. 17.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
20. 20.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
24. 24.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
25. 25.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
28. 28.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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