Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 338 · 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 must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
2. 2.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
3. 3.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
7. 7.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the audience
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
10. 10.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
12. 12.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) two sides to argue (c) no clear meaning (d) one right answer
13. 13.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the proposition
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
15. 15.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
16. 16.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
17. 17.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
21. 21.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
24. 24.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
25. 25.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
26. 26.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
35. 35.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the topic statement (c) the timekeeper (d) the last speech
36. 36.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
39. 39.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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