Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 751 · 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 start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
2. 2.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
5. 5.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
6. 6.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
7. 7.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
9. 9.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
10. 10.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
11. 11.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the last speech (c) the winner’s prize (d) the topic statement
12. 12.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the judges
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
20. 20.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
22. 22.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the proposition
23. 23.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
25. 25.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Breaking news…”
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
28. 28.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
29. 29.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
33. 33.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
34. 34.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition

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