Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

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

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