Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 874 · 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.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
2. 2.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
5. 5.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the winner’s prize (c) the timekeeper (d) the last speech
6. 6.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
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
8. 8.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must prove the motion
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
11. 11.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) no clear meaning (c) one right answer (d) two sides to argue
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
14. 14.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
16. 16.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Breaking news…”
17. 17.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the judges
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
19. 19.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
22. 22.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
24. 24.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
25. 25.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
26. 26.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
27. 27.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
28. 28.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
35. 35.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
37. 37.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first

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