Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 310 · 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.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
3. 3.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
5. 5.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
6. 6.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
13. 13.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
15. 15.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
17. 17.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
19. 19.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
25. 25.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
26. 26.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Breaking news…”
27. 27.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
28. 28.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
30. 30.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
35. 35.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
38. 38.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) two sides to argue (c) one right answer (d) no clear meaning
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False

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