Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 953 · 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 would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
2. 2.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
4. 4.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
5. 5.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
7. 7.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
8. 8.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
9. 9.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
10. 10.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
13. 13.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
15. 15.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
17. 17.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
20. 20.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
24. 24.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) two sides to argue (c) a hidden answer (d) no clear meaning
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
28. 28.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Breaking news…”
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
31. 31.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
32. 32.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the proposition
33. 33.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
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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