Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 330 · 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.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the topic statement (c) the timekeeper (d) the last speech
4. 4.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
7. 7.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
10. 10.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
14. 14.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
17. 17.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the audience
18. 18.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
21. 21.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
25. 25.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
26. 26.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
28. 28.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
34. 34.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) a hidden answer (c) one right answer (d) two sides to argue

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