Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 71 · 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 the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
2. 2.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
3. 3.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
5. 5.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
10. 10.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
14. 14.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
15. 15.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
16. 16.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the topic statement (c) the timekeeper (d) the winner’s prize
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
18. 18.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) one right answer (c) two sides to argue (d) a hidden answer
19. 19.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
20. 20.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
21. 21.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
22. 22.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
24. 24.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
25. 25.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
30. 30.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
33. 33.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
37. 37.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
39. 39.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion

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