Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 501 · 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 is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
4. 4.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
5. 5.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the proposition
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
8. 8.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) one right answer (c) a hidden answer (d) two sides to argue
9. 9.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the topic statement (c) the timekeeper (d) the last speech
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
11. 11.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must prove the motion
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
17. 17.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
18. 18.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
20. 20.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
21. 21.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
24. 24.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the judges
25. 25.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
26. 26.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
30. 30.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
36. 36.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
40. 40.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition

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