Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 640 · 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.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
4. 4.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
10. 10.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
12. 12.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
15. 15.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
16. 16.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
18. 18.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
19. 19.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the topic statement (c) the timekeeper (d) the last speech
20. 20.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
21. 21.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the judges
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
25. 25.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
26. 26.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
27. 27.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
28. 28.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) one right answer (c) two sides to argue (d) a hidden answer
30. 30.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the opposition
35. 35.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
36. 36.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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