Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 135 · 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 believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
5. 5.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) must prove the motion
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
7. 7.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
9. 9.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
10. 10.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
11. 11.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the last speech (c) the timekeeper (d) the winner’s prize
12. 12.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
13. 13.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
16. 16.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
21. 21.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
25. 25.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
26. 26.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
30. 30.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) no clear meaning (c) two sides to argue (d) one right answer
31. 31.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
32. 32.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) is against the motion
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
35. 35.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
36. 36.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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