Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 862 · 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) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
7. 7.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
9. 9.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
10. 10.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the proposition
11. 11.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
12. 12.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “This House…”
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
14. 14.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
15. 15.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
16. 16.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
17. 17.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
21. 21.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
25. 25.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
26. 26.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) a hidden answer (c) no clear meaning (d) two sides to argue
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
28. 28.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
31. 31.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
32. 32.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
33. 33.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
34. 34.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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