Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 444 · 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 is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
2. 2.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) no clear meaning (c) two sides to argue (d) one right answer
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
5. 5.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
6. 6.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
9. 9.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
10. 10.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
12. 12.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
13. 13.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
14. 14.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
15. 15.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
17. 17.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
18. 18.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
19. 19.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
24. 24.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Dear diary…”
25. 25.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
27. 27.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
28. 28.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
38. 38.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True

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