Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 179 · 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 must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) 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.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
4. 4.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Dear diary…”
5. 5.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
6. 6.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
7. 7.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
10. 10.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
14. 14.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) a hidden answer (c) no clear meaning (d) one right answer
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
16. 16.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
17. 17.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
18. 18.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the winner’s prize (c) the last speech (d) the topic statement
19. 19.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
24. 24.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
25. 25.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
29. 29.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) must prove the motion
31. 31.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
32. 32.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
33. 33.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
36. 36.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
39. 39.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
40. 40.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True

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