Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 935 · 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) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
7. 7.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
8. 8.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the timekeeper (c) the last speech (d) the topic statement
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
10. 10.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
14. 14.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
15. 15.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
16. 16.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
18. 18.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
19. 19.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
20. 20.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
22. 22.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
24. 24.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
30. 30.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
39. 39.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) two sides to argue (c) no clear meaning (d) a hidden answer
40. 40.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True

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