Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 818 · 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 of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
4. 4.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Breaking news…”
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
8. 8.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
10. 10.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) two sides to argue (c) a hidden answer (d) no clear meaning
13. 13.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
14. 14.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
15. 15.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
18. 18.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
19. 19.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
21. 21.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
32. 32.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the opposition
33. 33.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
35. 35.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
36. 36.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the topic statement (c) the last speech (d) the timekeeper
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
40. 40.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition

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