Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 384 · 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) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
2. 2.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
3. 3.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
4. 4.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
11. 11.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “This House…”
12. 12.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
15. 15.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
17. 17.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
22. 22.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
24. 24.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
25. 25.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
29. 29.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
30. 30.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the winner’s prize (c) the topic statement (d) the last speech
31. 31.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False

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