Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 527 · 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 proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
3. 3.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
7. 7.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
8. 8.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
9. 9.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
10. 10.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
11. 11.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
14. 14.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) one right answer (c) no clear meaning (d) a hidden answer
15. 15.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the last speech (c) the topic statement (d) the winner’s prize
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
17. 17.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
21. 21.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
22. 22.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
25. 25.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
26. 26.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Dear diary…”
27. 27.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
29. 29.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”

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