Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 732 · 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 would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
2. 2.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
4. 4.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “This House…”
7. 7.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the timekeeper (c) the topic statement (d) the last speech
8. 8.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
10. 10.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
15. 15.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the proposition
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
21. 21.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
25. 25.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
27. 27.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
28. 28.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
33. 33.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
34. 34.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
35. 35.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
36. 36.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
37. 37.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
38. 38.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
39. 39.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) a hidden answer (c) two sides to argue (d) no clear meaning
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False

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