Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 312 · 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 of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
5. 5.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “This House…”
6. 6.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
12. 12.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
14. 14.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the opposition
15. 15.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) no clear meaning (c) a hidden answer (d) one right answer
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.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
21. 21.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the proposition
26. 26.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
27. 27.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
28. 28.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must prove the motion
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
35. 35.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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