Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 401 · 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 believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
2. 2.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
4. 4.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
5. 5.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
6. 6.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
7. 7.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
9. 9.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the winner’s prize (c) the timekeeper (d) the last speech
10. 10.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) one right answer (c) no clear meaning (d) two sides to argue
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
14. 14.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
17. 17.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
22. 22.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
25. 25.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
26. 26.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
27. 27.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
28. 28.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
30. 30.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the judges
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
33. 33.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition
35. 35.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion

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