Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 614 · 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) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
2. 2.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
4. 4.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the winner’s prize (c) the last speech (d) the topic statement
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
6. 6.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
7. 7.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
9. 9.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
10. 10.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
14. 14.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
15. 15.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
17. 17.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the judges
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
19. 19.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
20. 20.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
22. 22.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
23. 23.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
24. 24.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “This House…”
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
27. 27.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
30. 30.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the opposition
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
32. 32.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
37. 37.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True

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