Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 584 · 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.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) two sides to argue (c) a hidden answer (d) no clear meaning
2. 2.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
3. 3.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
5. 5.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
6. 6.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
7. 7.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the winner’s prize (c) the topic statement (d) the last speech
8. 8.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
9. 9.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
11. 11.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
12. 12.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the opposition
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
14. 14.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
15. 15.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
19. 19.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
20. 20.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
23. 23.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
25. 25.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
27. 27.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
33. 33.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
34. 34.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
38. 38.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
40. 40.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True

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