Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 234 · 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) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
2. 2.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
3. 3.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
7. 7.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
8. 8.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
9. 9.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
10. 10.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the timekeeper (c) the topic statement (d) the last speech
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
12. 12.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
14. 14.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
15. 15.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
17. 17.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) a hidden answer (c) no clear meaning (d) one right answer
20. 20.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
21. 21.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the judges
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
24. 24.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
32. 32.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
35. 35.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Breaking news…”
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
39. 39.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition

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