Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 277 · 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 would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
2. 2.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
7. 7.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
8. 8.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
9. 9.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
11. 11.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
13. 13.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) a hidden answer (c) two sides to argue (d) no clear meaning
14. 14.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
15. 15.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the judges
16. 16.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
18. 18.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
19. 19.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the audience
20. 20.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the winner’s prize (c) the topic statement (d) the last speech
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
22. 22.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
23. 23.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
24. 24.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
25. 25.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
27. 27.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
28. 28.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
30. 30.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
33. 33.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Dear diary…”
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
36. 36.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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