Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 439 · 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 triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
6. 6.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
7. 7.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
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
10. 10.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
14. 14.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) one right answer (c) a hidden answer (d) two sides to argue
15. 15.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
16. 16.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the winner’s prize (c) the topic statement (d) the timekeeper
17. 17.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “This House…”
20. 20.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
22. 22.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
25. 25.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the judges
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
28. 28.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
29. 29.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
33. 33.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
34. 34.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
36. 36.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
40. 40.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”

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