Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 434 · 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 the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the audience
3. 3.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
4. 4.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
7. 7.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
9. 9.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
10. 10.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
11. 11.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Dear diary…”
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
13. 13.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
14. 14.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
15. 15.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the opposition
16. 16.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
18. 18.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) no clear meaning (c) a hidden answer (d) two sides to argue
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
20. 20.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
22. 22.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the timekeeper (c) the winner’s prize (d) the last speech
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
25. 25.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
29. 29.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
30. 30.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”

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