Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 644 · 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 opposition (b) the proposition
2. 2.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the proposition
3. 3.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the topic statement (c) the winner’s prize (d) the last speech
4. 4.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
10. 10.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
13. 13.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
17. 17.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
18. 18.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) a hidden answer (c) two sides to argue (d) no clear meaning
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
21. 21.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
24. 24.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
25. 25.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
26. 26.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
28. 28.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
32. 32.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
35. 35.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
38. 38.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
39. 39.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False

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