Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 774 · 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.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
4. 4.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
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.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
8. 8.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must prove the motion
9. 9.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
11. 11.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the last speech (c) the timekeeper (d) the topic statement
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
14. 14.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
15. 15.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the audience
16. 16.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the audience
17. 17.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
19. 19.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
20. 20.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
21. 21.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
23. 23.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
25. 25.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
27. 27.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
32. 32.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) one right answer (c) no clear meaning (d) two sides to argue
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
35. 35.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
38. 38.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
40. 40.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition

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