Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 645 · 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.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the judges
2. 2.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
4. 4.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
5. 5.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
6. 6.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
8. 8.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the last speech (c) the topic statement (d) the timekeeper
9. 9.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
10. 10.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
14. 14.🔍 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
15. 15.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) must prove the motion
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
18. 18.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) must prove the motion
21. 21.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
23. 23.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
24. 24.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
26. 26.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
35. 35.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
36. 36.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) a hidden answer (c) two sides to argue (d) one right answer
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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