Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 961 · 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.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
3. 3.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
4. 4.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the topic statement (c) the winner’s prize (d) the last speech
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
11. 11.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
15. 15.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the opposition
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
17. 17.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
18. 18.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
19. 19.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
24. 24.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the opposition
25. 25.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) no clear meaning (c) two sides to argue (d) one right answer
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
27. 27.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
30. 30.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
38. 38.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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