Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 502 · 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 disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
2. 2.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
3. 3.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
4. 4.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
5. 5.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) two sides to argue (c) one right answer (d) no clear meaning
6. 6.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
7. 7.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
12. 12.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
13. 13.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
14. 14.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
16. 16.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
17. 17.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
18. 18.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Breaking news…”
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
20. 20.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
21. 21.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the topic statement (c) the last speech (d) the winner’s prize
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
24. 24.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
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.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
30. 30.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
40. 40.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition

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