Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 226 · 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.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) must prove the motion
3. 3.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “This House…”
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
5. 5.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the winner’s prize (c) the topic statement (d) the last speech
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
7. 7.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
10. 10.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
12. 12.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
15. 15.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the proposition
16. 16.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
17. 17.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
19. 19.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
20. 20.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
21. 21.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) one right answer (c) two sides to argue (d) no clear meaning
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
24. 24.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
26. 26.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
29. 29.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
31. 31.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
32. 32.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the opposition
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
39. 39.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True

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