Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 508 · 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 answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
2. 2.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) one right answer (c) two sides to argue (d) no clear meaning
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
4. 4.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
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
9. 9.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
11. 11.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
14. 14.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
15. 15.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
16. 16.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
17. 17.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
18. 18.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
20. 20.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
21. 21.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the topic statement (c) the last speech (d) the winner’s prize
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
24. 24.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
28. 28.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
30. 30.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) must prove the motion
32. 32.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (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.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False

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