Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 113 · 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) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
4. 4.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
9. 9.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
12. 12.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) no clear meaning (c) a hidden answer (d) one right answer
13. 13.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
16. 16.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
17. 17.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the winner’s prize (c) the timekeeper (d) the last speech
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
22. 22.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
25. 25.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
32. 32.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the opposition
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion

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