Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 574 · 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.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
3. 3.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
5. 5.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
7. 7.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
8. 8.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the audience
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
10. 10.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the last speech (c) the topic statement (d) the timekeeper
13. 13.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
14. 14.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
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
18. 18.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) a hidden answer (c) no clear meaning (d) two sides to argue
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
20. 20.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Dear diary…”
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
26. 26.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
27. 27.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
28. 28.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
33. 33.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
34. 34.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion

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