Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 127 · 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 start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
5. 5.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
6. 6.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
8. 8.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
11. 11.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
12. 12.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
17. 17.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
19. 19.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the proposition
22. 22.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) two sides to argue (c) no clear meaning (d) a hidden answer
23. 23.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the winner’s prize (c) the timekeeper (d) the last speech
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
27. 27.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
29. 29.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
40. 40.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the audience

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