Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 360 · 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 side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
4. 4.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
7. 7.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) two sides to argue (c) no clear meaning (d) one right answer
8. 8.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
9. 9.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
10. 10.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “This House…”
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the timekeeper (c) the last speech (d) the winner’s prize
13. 13.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
21. 21.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the judges
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the proposition
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
33. 33.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
34. 34.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
38. 38.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”

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