Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 249 · 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 speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
2. 2.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
3. 3.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
4. 4.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) a hidden answer (c) no clear meaning (d) two sides to argue
7. 7.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
12. 12.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
15. 15.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
16. 16.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
17. 17.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
34. 34.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
35. 35.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
38. 38.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
39. 39.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the winner’s prize (c) the timekeeper (d) the topic statement
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion

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