Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 302 · 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 is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
2. 2.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
3. 3.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the topic statement (c) the winner’s prize (d) the timekeeper
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
5. 5.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
6. 6.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
7. 7.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
14. 14.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
15. 15.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
16. 16.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
17. 17.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
18. 18.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
20. 20.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
21. 21.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
28. 28.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) a hidden answer (c) one right answer (d) two sides to argue
29. 29.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
32. 32.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
34. 34.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
39. 39.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True

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