Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 397 · 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 opposition (b) the proposition
2. 2.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
3. 3.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
4. 4.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
5. 5.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
7. 7.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
10. 10.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
12. 12.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
14. 14.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
16. 16.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Dear diary…”
17. 17.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
27. 27.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the last speech (c) the timekeeper (d) the topic statement
28. 28.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
39. 39.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False

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