Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 109 · 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.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
3. 3.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
4. 4.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
6. 6.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
10. 10.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) must prove the motion
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
12. 12.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
14. 14.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
15. 15.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
20. 20.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the timekeeper (c) the last speech (d) the winner’s prize
21. 21.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
24. 24.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
26. 26.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
27. 27.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
28. 28.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) two sides to argue (c) one right answer (d) a hidden answer
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the audience
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
33. 33.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
35. 35.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Dear diary…”
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True

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