Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 833 · 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.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) two sides to argue (c) no clear meaning (d) one right answer
2. 2.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
3. 3.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
4. 4.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the opposition
6. 6.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
7. 7.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
12. 12.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the topic statement (c) the timekeeper (d) the winner’s prize
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
14. 14.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
17. 17.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “This House…”
18. 18.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
22. 22.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
25. 25.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
27. 27.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
31. 31.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the judges
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
37. 37.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
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) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first

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