Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 246 · 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.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
2. 2.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
3. 3.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
4. 4.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) a hidden answer (c) no clear meaning (d) two sides to argue
5. 5.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
11. 11.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
13. 13.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
15. 15.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
16. 16.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
19. 19.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
20. 20.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
21. 21.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
22. 22.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the judges
36. 36.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the last speech (c) the topic statement (d) the winner’s prize
37. 37.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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