Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 425 · 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 a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
4. 4.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) no clear meaning (c) a hidden answer (d) one right answer
6. 6.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
8. 8.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the winner’s prize (c) the topic statement (d) the last speech
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
12. 12.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
14. 14.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
16. 16.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
20. 20.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the opposition
21. 21.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “This House…”
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
25. 25.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
26. 26.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
27. 27.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
28. 28.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the proposition
32. 32.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
38. 38.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.🔍 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
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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