Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 738 · 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 is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
2. 2.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the opposition
3. 3.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
4. 4.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
9. 9.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
10. 10.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
11. 11.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
13. 13.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
14. 14.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the opposition
15. 15.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
16. 16.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the topic statement (c) the winner’s prize (d) the last speech
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
18. 18.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Breaking news…”
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) one right answer (c) no clear meaning (d) a hidden answer
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
29. 29.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
35. 35.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
36. 36.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True

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