Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 599 · 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 believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
2. 2.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
5. 5.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
7. 7.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the proposition
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
10. 10.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
14. 14.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) a hidden answer (c) no clear meaning (d) one right answer
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
16. 16.🔍 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
17. 17.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
18. 18.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
20. 20.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the proposition
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
22. 22.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
24. 24.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the last speech (c) the topic statement (d) the timekeeper
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
26. 26.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
27. 27.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
35. 35.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
36. 36.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
40. 40.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition

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