Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 716 · 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 ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
5. 5.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
6. 6.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
7. 7.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
10. 10.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the opposition
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
12. 12.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
14. 14.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
16. 16.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
17. 17.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
19. 19.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
20. 20.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) no clear meaning (c) two sides to argue (d) a hidden answer
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
27. 27.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
28. 28.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
32. 32.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
35. 35.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
36. 36.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
37. 37.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
38. 38.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition

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