Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 362 · 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 believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
4. 4.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
5. 5.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
7. 7.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
9. 9.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
10. 10.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
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.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) a hidden answer (c) two sides to argue (d) no clear meaning
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
15. 15.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
18. 18.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
23. 23.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
24. 24.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
27. 27.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
33. 33.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the opposition
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
35. 35.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
40. 40.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition

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