Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 150 · 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.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) two sides to argue (c) no clear meaning (d) a hidden answer
2. 2.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
3. 3.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
4. 4.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
5. 5.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) is against the motion
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
7. 7.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
11. 11.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the topic statement (c) the last speech (d) the winner’s prize
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
13. 13.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
14. 14.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
15. 15.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the proposition
16. 16.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
18. 18.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
19. 19.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
24. 24.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) says “I beg to oppose”
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
26. 26.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
27. 27.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
28. 28.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
29. 29.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True

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