Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 443 · 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.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
5. 5.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
6. 6.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
8. 8.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
12. 12.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
13. 13.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
14. 14.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
18. 18.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the timekeeper (c) the topic statement (d) the last speech
19. 19.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
22. 22.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
23. 23.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
28. 28.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must prove the motion
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
34. 34.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the audience
35. 35.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
36. 36.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
37. 37.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
38. 38.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) no clear meaning (c) a hidden answer (d) two sides to argue
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
40. 40.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion

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