Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 315 · 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.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the winner’s prize (c) the timekeeper (d) the topic statement
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
3. 3.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
5. 5.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
6. 6.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
17. 17.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
19. 19.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
21. 21.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
22. 22.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
25. 25.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
26. 26.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
30. 30.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) no clear meaning (c) two sides to argue (d) one right answer
35. 35.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
36. 36.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
38. 38.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
39. 39.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
40. 40.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the opposition

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