Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 757 · 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) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
3. 3.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
4. 4.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) two sides to argue (c) no clear meaning (d) a hidden answer
5. 5.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
6. 6.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
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.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
14. 14.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
15. 15.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
16. 16.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
17. 17.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the last speech (c) the timekeeper (d) the topic statement
19. 19.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
23. 23.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “This House…”
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
28. 28.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
32. 32.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
35. 35.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion

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