Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 697 · 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) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
3. 3.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
4. 4.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
5. 5.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the topic statement (c) the last speech (d) the timekeeper
6. 6.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the proposition
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
8. 8.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
10. 10.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
12. 12.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
13. 13.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
17. 17.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
20. 20.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
21. 21.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) two sides to argue (c) one right answer (d) a hidden answer
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Dear diary…”
25. 25.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
27. 27.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
31. 31.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
40. 40.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition

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