Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 458 · 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 a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
2. 2.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
3. 3.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
4. 4.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the winner’s prize (c) the topic statement (d) the timekeeper
5. 5.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
7. 7.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
11. 11.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
14. 14.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the proposition
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
17. 17.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) a hidden answer (c) no clear meaning (d) two sides to argue
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
20. 20.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
21. 21.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
25. 25.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
26. 26.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
27. 27.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
30. 30.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
31. 31.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
38. 38.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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