Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 794 · 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) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
2. 2.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
3. 3.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “This House…”
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
7. 7.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
8. 8.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
9. 9.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
10. 10.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the audience
11. 11.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the timekeeper (c) the last speech (d) the topic statement
12. 12.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the proposition
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
14. 14.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
15. 15.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
18. 18.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” 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) may test the definition (d) speaks first
23. 23.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
26. 26.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
36. 36.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) one right answer (c) two sides to argue (d) a hidden answer
38. 38.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
39. 39.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion

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