Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

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

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