Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 594 · 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 is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
3. 3.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
4. 4.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
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
8. 8.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
9. 9.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Breaking news…”
10. 10.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (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 opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
13. 13.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the opposition
14. 14.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the winner’s prize (c) the last speech (d) the topic statement
15. 15.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
17. 17.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the opposition
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
21. 21.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
22. 22.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
23. 23.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
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.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
28. 28.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
31. 31.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
33. 33.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
35. 35.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
36. 36.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) a hidden answer (c) one right answer (d) two sides to argue
37. 37.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) must prove the motion
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False

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