Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 866 · 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.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) no clear meaning (c) a hidden answer (d) two sides to argue
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
4. 4.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “This House…”
5. 5.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
15. 15.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
16. 16.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
17. 17.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
18. 18.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
20. 20.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
22. 22.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
23. 23.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
24. 24.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
25. 25.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
30. 30.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
38. 38.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
39. 39.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
40. 40.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”

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