Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 905 · 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 for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
2. 2.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Dear diary…”
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
4. 4.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
5. 5.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
7. 7.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
9. 9.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
11. 11.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the last speech (c) the winner’s prize (d) the topic statement
12. 12.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
13. 13.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the proposition
14. 14.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
15. 15.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
17. 17.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
19. 19.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) must prove the motion
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
21. 21.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) two sides to argue (c) no clear meaning (d) a hidden answer
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
30. 30.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the judges
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
33. 33.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
34. 34.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
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.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False

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