Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

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

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