Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 991 · 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 must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
2. 2.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
3. 3.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “This House…”
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
7. 7.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
10. 10.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
12. 12.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the audience
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
15. 15.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
19. 19.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
20. 20.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
22. 22.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) one right answer (c) no clear meaning (d) two sides to argue
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
25. 25.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
26. 26.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
27. 27.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
29. 29.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
30. 30.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
34. 34.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
35. 35.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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