Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 177 · 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.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the last speech (c) the timekeeper (d) the winner’s prize
2. 2.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
4. 4.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
5. 5.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
6. 6.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
7. 7.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
10. 10.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) a hidden answer (c) one right answer (d) two sides to argue
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
12. 12.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
15. 15.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
17. 17.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
19. 19.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
20. 20.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the judges
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
22. 22.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
26. 26.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) is against the motion
27. 27.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
28. 28.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
39. 39.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False

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