Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 522 · 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 may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
2. 2.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Breaking news…”
3. 3.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
4. 4.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
6. 6.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
8. 8.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
9. 9.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) one right answer (c) a hidden answer (d) two sides to argue
10. 10.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
13. 13.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
16. 16.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must prove the motion
18. 18.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the topic statement (c) the winner’s prize (d) the timekeeper
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
29. 29.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
35. 35.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
39. 39.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False

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