Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 758 · 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) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
5. 5.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
9. 9.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) a hidden answer (c) one right answer (d) no clear meaning
12. 12.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
14. 14.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the proposition
15. 15.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
17. 17.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the timekeeper (c) the winner’s prize (d) the last speech
18. 18.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
24. 24.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
27. 27.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
28. 28.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) must prove the motion
31. 31.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
38. 38.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion

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