Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 276 · 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.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
5. 5.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
7. 7.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
9. 9.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
10. 10.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
12. 12.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the opposition
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
14. 14.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
17. 17.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
18. 18.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
19. 19.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
23. 23.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the last speech (c) the topic statement (d) the winner’s prize
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
25. 25.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
26. 26.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
27. 27.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) a hidden answer (c) one right answer (d) two sides to argue
28. 28.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the judges
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
31. 31.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
38. 38.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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