Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 123 · 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 speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
4. 4.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the proposition
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
7. 7.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
8. 8.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
9. 9.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
14. 14.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
16. 16.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
24. 24.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
28. 28.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
29. 29.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the topic statement (c) the timekeeper (d) the last speech
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) 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) False (b) True
34. 34.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
35. 35.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
36. 36.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
40. 40.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) no clear meaning (c) one right answer (d) a hidden answer

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