Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 981 · 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) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
3. 3.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Breaking news…”
4. 4.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
7. 7.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
8. 8.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) one right answer (c) two sides to argue (d) a hidden answer
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
10. 10.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
13. 13.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
15. 15.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
16. 16.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the winner’s prize (c) the timekeeper (d) the topic statement
17. 17.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
18. 18.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”
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
22. 22.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
23. 23.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the audience
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
25. 25.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
27. 27.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
29. 29.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
33. 33.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
40. 40.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion

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