Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 707 · 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 is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
4. 4.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
5. 5.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
9. 9.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the winner’s prize (c) the topic statement (d) the timekeeper
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
15. 15.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
16. 16.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
18. 18.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the judges
19. 19.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the audience
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
25. 25.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
29. 29.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
30. 30.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
31. 31.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) a hidden answer (c) no clear meaning (d) one right answer
32. 32.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
33. 33.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
35. 35.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
40. 40.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition

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