Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 879 · 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 against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
3. 3.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the last speech (c) the timekeeper (d) the topic statement
4. 4.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) a hidden answer (c) no clear meaning (d) one right answer
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
7. 7.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
9. 9.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
10. 10.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
13. 13.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
14. 14.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
17. 17.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
19. 19.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
22. 22.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
23. 23.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
24. 24.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.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
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) must prove the motion
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
33. 33.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
34. 34.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Breaking news…”
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
36. 36.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the audience
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True

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