Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 416 · 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 opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
5. 5.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the topic statement (c) the winner’s prize (d) the timekeeper
6. 6.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
9. 9.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
10. 10.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
12. 12.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the audience
13. 13.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Breaking news…”
14. 14.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
17. 17.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
18. 18.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
21. 21.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
23. 23.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
32. 32.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
37. 37.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True

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