Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 410 · 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.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
2. 2.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
3. 3.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
5. 5.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
6. 6.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
7. 7.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
13. 13.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the last speech (c) the timekeeper (d) the topic statement
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
15. 15.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
16. 16.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
18. 18.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
19. 19.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
22. 22.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
27. 27.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
32. 32.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
36. 36.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
37. 37.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
40. 40.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) two sides to argue (c) one right answer (d) a hidden answer

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