Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 396 · 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.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
4. 4.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Dear diary…”
5. 5.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
7. 7.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
8. 8.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) a hidden answer (c) no clear meaning (d) two sides to argue
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
14. 14.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the timekeeper (c) the topic statement (d) the last speech
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
17. 17.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
20. 20.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
25. 25.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
30. 30.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the judges
33. 33.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the opposition
34. 34.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
37. 37.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
40. 40.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion

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