Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 912 · 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 believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
4. 4.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
6. 6.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
10. 10.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
15. 15.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
17. 17.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) one right answer (c) two sides to argue (d) no clear meaning
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
21. 21.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
22. 22.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
24. 24.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
27. 27.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
28. 28.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the topic statement (c) the winner’s prize (d) the timekeeper
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
34. 34.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
37. 37.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
39. 39.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the judges
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True

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