Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 132 · 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) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
2. 2.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
6. 6.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the judges
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
9. 9.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Breaking news…”
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
13. 13.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
14. 14.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
19. 19.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the opposition
20. 20.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
21. 21.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the topic statement (c) the timekeeper (d) the last speech
22. 22.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
25. 25.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
27. 27.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
29. 29.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
33. 33.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
35. 35.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) no clear meaning (c) two sides to argue (d) one right answer
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
37. 37.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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