Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 461 · 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.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
7. 7.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the judges
8. 8.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
9. 9.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
10. 10.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
15. 15.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “This House…”
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) a hidden answer (c) two sides to argue (d) one right answer
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
20. 20.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) must prove the motion
21. 21.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
23. 23.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
25. 25.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
30. 30.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
31. 31.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
33. 33.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
34. 34.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
37. 37.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the timekeeper (c) the winner’s prize (d) the last speech

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