Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 835 · 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) no clear meaning (b) two sides to argue (c) a hidden answer (d) one right answer
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
6. 6.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
7. 7.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
9. 9.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
11. 11.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
14. 14.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
15. 15.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the opposition
18. 18.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “This House…”
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
20. 20.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
22. 22.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
23. 23.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
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
29. 29.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the last speech (c) the topic statement (d) the winner’s prize
30. 30.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True

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