Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 237 · 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 spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
2. 2.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
3. 3.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
7. 7.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) no clear meaning (c) two sides to argue (d) a hidden answer
9. 9.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
10. 10.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the last speech (c) the timekeeper (d) the winner’s prize
11. 11.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
14. 14.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
15. 15.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
18. 18.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
19. 19.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
20. 20.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
25. 25.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
27. 27.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.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) says “I beg to propose”
35. 35.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “This House…”
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
38. 38.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
40. 40.🔍 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

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