Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 646 · 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 every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
3. 3.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the timekeeper (c) the topic statement (d) the last speech
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
6. 6.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Breaking news…”
7. 7.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
8. 8.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
9. 9.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
12. 12.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
17. 17.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) no clear meaning (c) two sides to argue (d) one right answer
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
19. 19.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not 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.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
24. 24.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
25. 25.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
26. 26.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
30. 30.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
31. 31.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
33. 33.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
34. 34.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True

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