Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 182 · 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.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) two sides to argue (c) a hidden answer (d) no clear meaning
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
8. 8.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
10. 10.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the audience
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.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
14. 14.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
15. 15.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
18. 18.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
19. 19.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
20. 20.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
21. 21.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
23. 23.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
25. 25.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
26. 26.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
27. 27.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
31. 31.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
32. 32.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
33. 33.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the topic statement (c) the winner’s prize (d) the timekeeper
34. 34.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
39. 39.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”

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