Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 957 · 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 is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
5. 5.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
7. 7.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Breaking news…”
9. 9.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
11. 11.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
12. 12.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
18. 18.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) two sides to argue (c) no clear meaning (d) a hidden answer
19. 19.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
21. 21.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
25. 25.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
26. 26.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the opposition
34. 34.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the topic statement (c) the last speech (d) the timekeeper
35. 35.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
37. 37.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
38. 38.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True

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