Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 172 · 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 may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
2. 2.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
4. 4.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) one right answer (c) no clear meaning (d) two sides to argue
5. 5.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
6. 6.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
7. 7.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
9. 9.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
11. 11.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
12. 12.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
15. 15.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
16. 16.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Breaking news…”
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the audience
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
22. 22.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
23. 23.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the proposition
24. 24.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
25. 25.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the topic statement (c) the last speech (d) the winner’s prize
26. 26.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
29. 29.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
31. 31.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
35. 35.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
38. 38.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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