Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 354 · 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.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the audience
2. 2.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) a hidden answer (c) one right answer (d) two sides to argue
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
4. 4.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
7. 7.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
10. 10.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
13. 13.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
14. 14.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must prove the motion
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
20. 20.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
21. 21.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
28. 28.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
31. 31.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
40. 40.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the last speech (c) the topic statement (d) the winner’s prize

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