Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 209 · 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 answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
4. 4.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
5. 5.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
7. 7.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
8. 8.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
9. 9.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the proposition
10. 10.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
18. 18.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
20. 20.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
21. 21.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
22. 22.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
25. 25.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
26. 26.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Dear diary…”
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
28. 28.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
29. 29.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the winner’s prize (c) the topic statement (d) the timekeeper
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
36. 36.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
37. 37.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) one right answer (c) a hidden answer (d) no clear meaning
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion

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