Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 499 · 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 proposition (b) the opposition
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
4. 4.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
8. 8.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
13. 13.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
16. 16.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
17. 17.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
23. 23.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
25. 25.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
26. 26.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
28. 28.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
29. 29.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
32. 32.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) one right answer (c) no clear meaning (d) two sides to argue
33. 33.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the proposition
34. 34.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
40. 40.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the topic statement (c) the timekeeper (d) the last speech

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