Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 114 · 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 a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
4. 4.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
5. 5.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the audience
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
7. 7.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) speaks first
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
10. 10.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
11. 11.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
13. 13.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
15. 15.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
17. 17.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) no clear meaning (c) a hidden answer (d) one right answer
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
19. 19.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
24. 24.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
25. 25.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
27. 27.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the timekeeper (c) the topic statement (d) the winner’s prize
28. 28.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
29. 29.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
33. 33.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”
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
36. 36.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
37. 37.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False

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