Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 510 · 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 defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
3. 3.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
4. 4.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
5. 5.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
7. 7.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
8. 8.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) a hidden answer (c) one right answer (d) no clear meaning
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
11. 11.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the proposition
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
13. 13.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “This House…”
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
18. 18.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
20. 20.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
22. 22.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
26. 26.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
27. 27.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
28. 28.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
31. 31.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the audience
32. 32.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
35. 35.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
40. 40.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False

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