Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 259 · 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) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
3. 3.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
4. 4.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
5. 5.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
7. 7.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
8. 8.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
9. 9.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
10. 10.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
11. 11.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
14. 14.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the timekeeper (c) the topic statement (d) the last speech
15. 15.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) no clear meaning (c) one right answer (d) two sides to argue
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
21. 21.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “This House…”
22. 22.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
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 cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
27. 27.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
32. 32.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
33. 33.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
34. 34.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
37. 37.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True

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