Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 561 · 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.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
2. 2.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
3. 3.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the timekeeper (c) the winner’s prize (d) the last speech
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
7. 7.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
8. 8.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
10. 10.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
13. 13.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the judges
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
16. 16.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
17. 17.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
18. 18.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
19. 19.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
20. 20.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
21. 21.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
22. 22.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Breaking news…”
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
31. 31.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the audience
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
38. 38.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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