Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 565 · 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 proposition? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
2. 2.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
3. 3.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the topic statement (c) the last speech (d) the winner’s prize
4. 4.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
5. 5.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) a hidden answer (c) no clear meaning (d) one right answer
6. 6.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
7. 7.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
8. 8.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) must prove the motion
9. 9.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
10. 10.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the audience
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
13. 13.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
15. 15.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
16. 16.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
17. 17.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
24. 24.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
25. 25.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
26. 26.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
27. 27.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
29. 29.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
33. 33.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
35. 35.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False

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