Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 141 · 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) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
2. 2.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the winner’s prize (c) the timekeeper (d) the last speech
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
4. 4.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
6. 6.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
7. 7.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
10. 10.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
12. 12.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
14. 14.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
16. 16.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
17. 17.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
18. 18.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
26. 26.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
27. 27.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.🔍 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
29. 29.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
31. 31.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the audience
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
33. 33.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
35. 35.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Dear diary…”
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
38. 38.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
39. 39.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the judges

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