Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 769 · 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 of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
3. 3.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
4. 4.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
5. 5.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
6. 6.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
7. 7.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
10. 10.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
12. 12.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
15. 15.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) one right answer (c) no clear meaning (d) two sides to argue
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
17. 17.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
18. 18.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
19. 19.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the audience
20. 20.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
21. 21.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
22. 22.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
23. 23.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the timekeeper (c) the winner’s prize (d) the topic statement
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
36. 36.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition

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