Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 983 · 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 of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
3. 3.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
4. 4.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) no clear meaning (c) two sides to argue (d) one right answer
7. 7.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
8. 8.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
13. 13.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the last speech (c) the topic statement (d) the winner’s prize
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
15. 15.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
20. 20.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
21. 21.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
25. 25.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
31. 31.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Breaking news…”
34. 34.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
39. 39.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion

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