Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 455 · 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) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
2. 2.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
3. 3.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
4. 4.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
9. 9.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
10. 10.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the timekeeper (c) the winner’s prize (d) the topic statement
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
14. 14.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the audience
15. 15.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
19. 19.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
25. 25.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
28. 28.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) one right answer (c) two sides to argue (d) a hidden answer
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
33. 33.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
34. 34.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
36. 36.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
37. 37.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
38. 38.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition
39. 39.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “This House…”
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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