Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

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

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