Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 659 · 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) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
2. 2.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) a hidden answer (c) no clear meaning (d) two sides to argue
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
5. 5.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
8. 8.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
14. 14.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
15. 15.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
18. 18.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the audience
19. 19.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
22. 22.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
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 would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
25. 25.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
29. 29.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
32. 32.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the winner’s prize (c) the timekeeper (d) the topic statement
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
35. 35.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
36. 36.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
38. 38.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False

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