Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 140 · 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) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
8. 8.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the last speech (c) the timekeeper (d) the topic statement
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
10. 10.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
12. 12.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Dear diary…”
13. 13.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
14. 14.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
15. 15.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
17. 17.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
23. 23.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
28. 28.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
30. 30.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
31. 31.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
33. 33.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
34. 34.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) two sides to argue (c) one right answer (d) a hidden answer
37. 37.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
38. 38.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”

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