Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 44 · 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 prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
3. 3.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
9. 9.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the last speech (c) the topic statement (d) the timekeeper
10. 10.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
11. 11.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
12. 12.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
14. 14.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
15. 15.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the proposition
20. 20.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the judges
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
22. 22.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
23. 23.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
24. 24.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
25. 25.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
26. 26.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
29. 29.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
32. 32.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) must prove the motion
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True

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