Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 210 · 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 of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
2. 2.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
3. 3.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the judges
4. 4.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
5. 5.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
8. 8.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) one right answer (c) a hidden answer (d) two sides to argue
9. 9.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
11. 11.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
14. 14.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
16. 16.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
18. 18.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
19. 19.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the last speech (c) the timekeeper (d) the winner’s prize
20. 20.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
27. 27.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
28. 28.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
30. 30.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the judges
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
38. 38.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False

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