Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 711 · 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 believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
3. 3.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
4. 4.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the opposition
5. 5.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
6. 6.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
7. 7.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
8. 8.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
10. 10.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
11. 11.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
13. 13.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
16. 16.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
17. 17.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
23. 23.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the last speech (c) the winner’s prize (d) the topic statement
24. 24.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) one right answer (c) a hidden answer (d) two sides to argue
25. 25.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
28. 28.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
34. 34.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
35. 35.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
37. 37.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
38. 38.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False

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