Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 278 · 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.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
3. 3.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
8. 8.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) one right answer (c) no clear meaning (d) a hidden answer
9. 9.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
10. 10.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
15. 15.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Breaking news…”
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
20. 20.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
24. 24.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
26. 26.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
27. 27.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
30. 30.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the topic statement (c) the winner’s prize (d) the last speech
31. 31.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
32. 32.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
33. 33.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False

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