Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 632 · 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 believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
5. 5.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
6. 6.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
10. 10.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the winner’s prize (c) the topic statement (d) the last speech
11. 11.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
15. 15.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
17. 17.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the audience
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
21. 21.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the proposition
22. 22.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) a hidden answer (c) one right answer (d) two sides to argue
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
24. 24.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
25. 25.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
26. 26.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Dear diary…”
28. 28.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
35. 35.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
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.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must prove the motion

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