Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 54 · 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 prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
7. 7.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Breaking news…”
8. 8.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the judges
9. 9.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
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) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
20. 20.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the last speech (c) the timekeeper (d) the topic statement
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
24. 24.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
25. 25.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
26. 26.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
28. 28.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the opposition
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
37. 37.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
38. 38.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) a hidden answer (c) one right answer (d) two sides to argue
39. 39.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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