Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

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

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