Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 959 · 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 defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
2. 2.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
3. 3.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
4. 4.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the judges
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
10. 10.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
12. 12.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
14. 14.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
16. 16.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
17. 17.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
19. 19.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
23. 23.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
24. 24.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
25. 25.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the winner’s prize (c) the last speech (d) the topic statement
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
29. 29.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) no clear meaning (c) one right answer (d) two sides to argue
31. 31.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
33. 33.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
36. 36.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”

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