Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 893 · 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 is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
4. 4.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
8. 8.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
9. 9.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
13. 13.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
14. 14.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
15. 15.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Breaking news…”
16. 16.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
17. 17.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
18. 18.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
20. 20.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
23. 23.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
25. 25.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
28. 28.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the proposition
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
31. 31.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”

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