Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 260 · 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) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
5. 5.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) a hidden answer (c) no clear meaning (d) one right answer
6. 6.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
7. 7.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
8. 8.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the proposition
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
13. 13.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
15. 15.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
20. 20.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
22. 22.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
24. 24.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
27. 27.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
28. 28.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
29. 29.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
30. 30.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
39. 39.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False

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