Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 842 · 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 opposition (b) the proposition
2. 2.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
7. 7.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
8. 8.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) one right answer (c) a hidden answer (d) two sides to argue
9. 9.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
10. 10.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the winner’s prize (c) the last speech (d) the timekeeper
11. 11.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
13. 13.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
15. 15.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
18. 18.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
20. 20.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
26. 26.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
29. 29.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
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.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
33. 33.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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