Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 984 · 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 winner’s prize (b) the topic statement (c) the last speech (d) the timekeeper
2. 2.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
5. 5.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the proposition
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must prove the motion
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
11. 11.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
12. 12.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
13. 13.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
14. 14.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
15. 15.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
16. 16.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
20. 20.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
23. 23.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “This House…”
24. 24.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) a hidden answer (c) no clear meaning (d) one right answer
25. 25.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
26. 26.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
28. 28.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
33. 33.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
34. 34.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
37. 37.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
40. 40.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion

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