Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 52 · 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 of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
2. 2.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
3. 3.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
7. 7.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
10. 10.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
12. 12.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
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
14. 14.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) no clear meaning (c) a hidden answer (d) two sides to argue
15. 15.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the last speech (c) the topic statement (d) the timekeeper
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
17. 17.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “This House…”
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
20. 20.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
22. 22.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the opposition
29. 29.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the judges
35. 35.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
39. 39.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
40. 40.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True

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