Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 727 · 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.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
2. 2.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
3. 3.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
8. 8.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Dear diary…”
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 every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
12. 12.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) one right answer (c) two sides to argue (d) no clear meaning
16. 16.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
17. 17.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the topic statement (c) the timekeeper (d) the winner’s prize
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
23. 23.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
24. 24.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
26. 26.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the proposition
30. 30.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
33. 33.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
34. 34.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
37. 37.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
40. 40.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words

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