Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 331 · 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 start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
2. 2.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
3. 3.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
5. 5.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
7. 7.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
8. 8.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
16. 16.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
19. 19.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
20. 20.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
24. 24.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
25. 25.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the last speech (c) the winner’s prize (d) the topic statement
26. 26.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
28. 28.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
30. 30.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
34. 34.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) one right answer (c) no clear meaning (d) two sides to argue
39. 39.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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