Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 978 · 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 ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
2. 2.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
3. 3.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
4. 4.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Breaking news…”
8. 8.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the timekeeper (c) the last speech (d) the topic statement
12. 12.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
13. 13.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
16. 16.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
18. 18.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
19. 19.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
20. 20.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
27. 27.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
29. 29.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
35. 35.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
40. 40.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the judges

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