Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 180 · 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 says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
10. 10.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
16. 16.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
18. 18.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
19. 19.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
20. 20.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
21. 21.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
23. 23.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
27. 27.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
28. 28.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) no clear meaning (c) one right answer (d) two sides to argue
31. 31.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the timekeeper (c) the winner’s prize (d) the topic statement
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
35. 35.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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