Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 46 · 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 may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
2. 2.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
10. 10.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
14. 14.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “This House…”
15. 15.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the last speech (c) the timekeeper (d) the topic statement
16. 16.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
18. 18.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the judges
19. 19.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
27. 27.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
28. 28.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) no clear meaning (c) two sides to argue (d) one right answer
29. 29.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
30. 30.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
35. 35.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
40. 40.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition

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