Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

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

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