Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 925 · 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) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
2. 2.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
3. 3.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
5. 5.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the proposition
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
7. 7.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
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
9. 9.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
10. 10.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
13. 13.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
21. 21.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
22. 22.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
24. 24.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
25. 25.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the timekeeper (c) the last speech (d) the topic statement
26. 26.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
27. 27.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) no clear meaning (c) two sides to argue (d) one right answer
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
30. 30.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
33. 33.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
34. 34.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
35. 35.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
37. 37.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
39. 39.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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