Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 609 · 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 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
2. 2.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
5. 5.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the judges
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
7. 7.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
14. 14.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
15. 15.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the winner’s prize (c) the timekeeper (d) the last speech
16. 16.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
17. 17.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
20. 20.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
24. 24.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
29. 29.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
31. 31.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
32. 32.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
39. 39.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the judges
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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