Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 84 · 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 opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
2. 2.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
4. 4.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) a hidden answer (c) two sides to argue (d) no clear meaning
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
9. 9.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Dear diary…”
10. 10.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
15. 15.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
17. 17.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
18. 18.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
20. 20.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the timekeeper (c) the winner’s prize (d) the last speech
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
28. 28.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
30. 30.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
35. 35.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
36. 36.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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