Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 670 · 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 would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
5. 5.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
7. 7.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
8. 8.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
9. 9.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
14. 14.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
15. 15.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
21. 21.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
22. 22.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) must prove the motion
23. 23.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
24. 24.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
27. 27.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) a hidden answer (c) no clear meaning (d) two sides to argue
28. 28.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Breaking news…”
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
34. 34.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
35. 35.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
37. 37.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
38. 38.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the timekeeper (c) the winner’s prize (d) the topic statement
39. 39.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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