Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 950 · 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 side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
5. 5.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
6. 6.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
8. 8.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
9. 9.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
11. 11.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
13. 13.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
14. 14.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) a hidden answer (c) one right answer (d) two sides to argue
15. 15.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
18. 18.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
19. 19.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
20. 20.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
23. 23.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
24. 24.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
25. 25.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
26. 26.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
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.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the timekeeper (c) the topic statement (d) the winner’s prize
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
35. 35.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
37. 37.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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