Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 207 · 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 for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
4. 4.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
5. 5.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) must prove the motion
6. 6.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
7. 7.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
10. 10.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
11. 11.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
14. 14.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.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
17. 17.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
19. 19.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the opposition
20. 20.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
27. 27.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) two sides to argue (c) one right answer (d) no clear meaning
28. 28.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the last speech (c) the winner’s prize (d) the topic statement
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
36. 36.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Breaking news…”
39. 39.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”

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