Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 546 · 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 answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
4. 4.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
5. 5.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
6. 6.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the winner’s prize (c) the timekeeper (d) the topic statement
7. 7.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) a hidden answer (c) no clear meaning (d) one right answer
12. 12.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
14. 14.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
15. 15.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
16. 16.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
17. 17.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
27. 27.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
28. 28.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
30. 30.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
35. 35.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion

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