Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 593 · 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 would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
2. 2.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
4. 4.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
5. 5.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
8. 8.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
9. 9.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
13. 13.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
15. 15.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the winner’s prize (c) the timekeeper (d) the last speech
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
18. 18.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the proposition
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
20. 20.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
26. 26.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
29. 29.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
30. 30.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) two sides to argue (c) a hidden answer (d) one right answer
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the audience

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