Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 814 · 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) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Breaking news…”
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition
11. 11.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
13. 13.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
18. 18.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
19. 19.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
20. 20.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
22. 22.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
23. 23.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
25. 25.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
26. 26.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
29. 29.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) a hidden answer (c) one right answer (d) two sides to argue
30. 30.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
31. 31.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
35. 35.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False

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