Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 476 · 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 says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
4. 4.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
6. 6.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
7. 7.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
8. 8.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the last speech (c) the timekeeper (d) the topic statement
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
10. 10.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the judges
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
14. 14.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) a hidden answer (c) no clear meaning (d) one right answer
19. 19.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
20. 20.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
25. 25.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
28. 28.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
31. 31.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
35. 35.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
36. 36.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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