Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 403 · 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 would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
2. 2.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
3. 3.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) two sides to argue (c) no clear meaning (d) one right answer
4. 4.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Breaking news…”
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
6. 6.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
8. 8.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
9. 9.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
13. 13.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
16. 16.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the last speech (c) the winner’s prize (d) the timekeeper
17. 17.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
19. 19.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
20. 20.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
28. 28.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
33. 33.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
35. 35.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
36. 36.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False

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