Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 642 · 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 must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
4. 4.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
5. 5.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
6. 6.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
8. 8.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) no clear meaning (c) two sides to argue (d) one right answer
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
10. 10.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the judges
11. 11.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
14. 14.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
15. 15.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the timekeeper (c) the winner’s prize (d) the topic statement
17. 17.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
19. 19.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
20. 20.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Dear diary…”
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
28. 28.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
31. 31.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
35. 35.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
36. 36.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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