Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 498 · 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 is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
3. 3.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
7. 7.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the topic statement (c) the timekeeper (d) the last speech
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
17. 17.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
18. 18.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) one right answer (c) no clear meaning (d) two sides to argue
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
23. 23.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
25. 25.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
26. 26.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
27. 27.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
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 is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
35. 35.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
38. 38.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the judges
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first

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