Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 873 · 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 side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
6. 6.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition
10. 10.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Breaking news…”
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
12. 12.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
16. 16.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the timekeeper (c) the last speech (d) the winner’s prize
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
18. 18.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
19. 19.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
20. 20.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
22. 22.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) a hidden answer (c) two sides to argue (d) no clear meaning
23. 23.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the proposition
24. 24.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
28. 28.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
31. 31.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the judges
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) must prove the motion

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