Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 999 · 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 spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
2. 2.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
3. 3.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
5. 5.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) two sides to argue (c) a hidden answer (d) no clear meaning
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
7. 7.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
10. 10.🔍 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
11. 11.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
13. 13.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
14. 14.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
15. 15.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the timekeeper (c) the topic statement (d) the last speech
16. 16.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
17. 17.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
18. 18.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (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.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the audience
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
40. 40.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) defines the key words

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