Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 306 · 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 triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
3. 3.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
4. 4.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
5. 5.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
7. 7.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
8. 8.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the topic statement (c) the last speech (d) the timekeeper
9. 9.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
10. 10.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the audience
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
14. 14.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
16. 16.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
18. 18.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
20. 20.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Breaking news…”
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
22. 22.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
28. 28.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
31. 31.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
35. 35.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
36. 36.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) one right answer (c) a hidden answer (d) two sides to argue
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) must prove the motion
39. 39.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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