Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 152 · 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.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) one right answer (c) no clear meaning (d) a hidden answer
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
4. 4.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
5. 5.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
7. 7.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
10. 10.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
13. 13.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
14. 14.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
18. 18.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
19. 19.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
21. 21.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
23. 23.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
27. 27.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
28. 28.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
31. 31.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the topic statement (c) the winner’s prize (d) the timekeeper
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
34. 34.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
37. 37.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
40. 40.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition

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