Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 657 · 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 side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
2. 2.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
6. 6.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
7. 7.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
9. 9.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the topic statement (c) the timekeeper (d) the winner’s prize
10. 10.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
11. 11.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
12. 12.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
15. 15.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
19. 19.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the opposition
20. 20.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
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
22. 22.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the opposition
23. 23.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) must prove the motion
29. 29.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
35. 35.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition

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