Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 568 · 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.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
4. 4.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
5. 5.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the opposition
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
7. 7.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
9. 9.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
11. 11.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
14. 14.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
16. 16.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the last speech (c) the topic statement (d) the winner’s prize
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
18. 18.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
19. 19.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
20. 20.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Breaking news…”
21. 21.🔍 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”
22. 22.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) a hidden answer (c) no clear meaning (d) two sides to argue
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
24. 24.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.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) says “I beg to propose”
26. 26.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
31. 31.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the proposition
32. 32.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
33. 33.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
34. 34.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
39. 39.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
40. 40.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True

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