Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 994 · 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 side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
3. 3.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
11. 11.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
12. 12.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
13. 13.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
16. 16.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
20. 20.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) one right answer (c) a hidden answer (d) no clear meaning
21. 21.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
22. 22.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
23. 23.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the timekeeper (c) the last speech (d) the winner’s prize
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
25. 25.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
27. 27.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
33. 33.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the proposition
34. 34.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
37. 37.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
40. 40.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition

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