Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 225 · 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 of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
2. 2.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
3. 3.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
7. 7.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
9. 9.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
12. 12.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
13. 13.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
15. 15.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
16. 16.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
17. 17.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
18. 18.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the last speech (c) the topic statement (d) the winner’s prize
19. 19.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
21. 21.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) two sides to argue (c) one right answer (d) no clear meaning
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
23. 23.🔍 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
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
29. 29.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
33. 33.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
37. 37.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
39. 39.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion

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