Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 503 · 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 must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
2. 2.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Breaking news…”
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
7. 7.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
9. 9.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
10. 10.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the topic statement (c) the timekeeper (d) the winner’s prize
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
13. 13.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the opposition
14. 14.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
17. 17.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
20. 20.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) a hidden answer (c) one right answer (d) two sides to argue
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
24. 24.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
28. 28.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
30. 30.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
31. 31.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False

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