Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 654 · 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.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the timekeeper (c) the last speech (d) the topic statement
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
6. 6.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Breaking news…”
7. 7.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
9. 9.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
11. 11.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the proposition
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
17. 17.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
19. 19.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
20. 20.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
26. 26.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
29. 29.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) a hidden answer (c) no clear meaning (d) two sides to argue
30. 30.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the opposition
31. 31.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
34. 34.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
35. 35.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
38. 38.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion

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