Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 308 · 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 would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
3. 3.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
4. 4.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
6. 6.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
10. 10.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
13. 13.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) no clear meaning (c) a hidden answer (d) two sides to argue
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
15. 15.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the proposition
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
17. 17.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
18. 18.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
20. 20.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
22. 22.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
25. 25.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the topic statement (c) the winner’s prize (d) the last speech
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
27. 27.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
35. 35.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
36. 36.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the opposition
37. 37.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
38. 38.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) must prove the motion

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