Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 58 · 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 is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
3. 3.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
4. 4.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
7. 7.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
8. 8.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
11. 11.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the judges
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
14. 14.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the topic statement (c) the timekeeper (d) the winner’s prize
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
28. 28.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
30. 30.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
33. 33.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
37. 37.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) one right answer (c) two sides to argue (d) a hidden answer
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
40. 40.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False

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