Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 342 · 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.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) two sides to argue (c) a hidden answer (d) one right answer
2. 2.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
4. 4.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the winner’s prize (c) the timekeeper (d) the topic statement
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
10. 10.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
11. 11.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
16. 16.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
18. 18.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
19. 19.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
21. 21.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
22. 22.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
23. 23.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
25. 25.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
27. 27.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
31. 31.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
32. 32.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the audience
35. 35.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
39. 39.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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