Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 936 · 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.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
2. 2.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
3. 3.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
4. 4.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
5. 5.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
7. 7.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
8. 8.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
10. 10.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
14. 14.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
18. 18.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
20. 20.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
25. 25.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
29. 29.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
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
32. 32.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
33. 33.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
34. 34.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the opposition
35. 35.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
37. 37.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) a hidden answer (c) no clear meaning (d) one right answer
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
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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