Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 858 · 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) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
2. 2.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
3. 3.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
4. 4.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
6. 6.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
7. 7.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
9. 9.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the topic statement (c) the last speech (d) the timekeeper
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
11. 11.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
14. 14.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
15. 15.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
18. 18.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
20. 20.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) one right answer (c) two sides to argue (d) a hidden answer
21. 21.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the opposition
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
29. 29.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
37. 37.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
40. 40.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition

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