Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 430 · 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) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) one right answer (c) a hidden answer (d) two sides to argue
4. 4.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
13. 13.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Breaking news…”
14. 14.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
15. 15.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
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.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
22. 22.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
25. 25.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
26. 26.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the proposition
27. 27.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
32. 32.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the last speech (c) the topic statement (d) the winner’s prize
33. 33.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
36. 36.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion

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