Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 372 · 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 is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
2. 2.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the last speech (c) the winner’s prize (d) the timekeeper
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
4. 4.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
7. 7.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
10. 10.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
14. 14.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
24. 24.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
27. 27.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
28. 28.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
29. 29.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
33. 33.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the judges
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
35. 35.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) defines the key words
36. 36.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
38. 38.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
40. 40.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition

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