Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 483 · 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 defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
4. 4.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
8. 8.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the judges
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
10. 10.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
11. 11.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) one right answer (c) a hidden answer (d) no clear meaning
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
15. 15.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the last speech (c) the winner’s prize (d) the topic statement
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
19. 19.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
20. 20.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Dear diary…”
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
26. 26.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
29. 29.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) must prove the motion
33. 33.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
38. 38.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
40. 40.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition

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