Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 454 · 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 against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
4. 4.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
5. 5.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
6. 6.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) no clear meaning (c) a hidden answer (d) one right answer
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
13. 13.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
17. 17.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
18. 18.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
19. 19.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the proposition
24. 24.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
30. 30.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
31. 31.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
32. 32.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
35. 35.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
36. 36.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
37. 37.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
38. 38.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the timekeeper (c) the last speech (d) the topic statement
39. 39.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words

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