Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 126 · 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 summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
4. 4.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
7. 7.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) no clear meaning (c) one right answer (d) a hidden answer
8. 8.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
10. 10.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Breaking news…”
11. 11.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
14. 14.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
16. 16.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
18. 18.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must prove the motion
19. 19.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the topic statement (c) the winner’s prize (d) the timekeeper
20. 20.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
22. 22.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
24. 24.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
27. 27.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
28. 28.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
29. 29.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
30. 30.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
31. 31.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
32. 32.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the audience
33. 33.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
34. 34.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
36. 36.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
40. 40.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the opposition

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