Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 832 · 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 side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
7. 7.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the last speech (c) the topic statement (d) the timekeeper
8. 8.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
9. 9.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the proposition
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
13. 13.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
14. 14.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) no clear meaning (c) two sides to argue (d) one right answer
15. 15.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
20. 20.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
25. 25.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
26. 26.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
27. 27.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
29. 29.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the judges
30. 30.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
36. 36.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
37. 37.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True

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