Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 946 · 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.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the proposition
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
4. 4.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
5. 5.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
6. 6.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
10. 10.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
11. 11.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
12. 12.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
14. 14.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “This House…”
15. 15.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
16. 16.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) a hidden answer (c) no clear meaning (d) two sides to argue
17. 17.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
19. 19.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
20. 20.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
21. 21.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the last speech (c) the timekeeper (d) the topic statement
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
24. 24.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
26. 26.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
27. 27.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the opposition
28. 28.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
29. 29.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
38. 38.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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