Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 627 · 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 prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
3. 3.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition
7. 7.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
8. 8.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
9. 9.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
10. 10.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
12. 12.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
13. 13.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) a hidden answer (c) one right answer (d) no clear meaning
14. 14.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
17. 17.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
18. 18.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
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.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
22. 22.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
23. 23.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the timekeeper (c) the last speech (d) the winner’s prize
24. 24.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
25. 25.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
26. 26.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must prove the motion
27. 27.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
34. 34.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
38. 38.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False

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