Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 700 · 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 for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
3. 3.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
6. 6.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
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 believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
10. 10.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
17. 17.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
19. 19.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the opposition
20. 20.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
21. 21.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
22. 22.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) one right answer (c) two sides to argue (d) no clear meaning
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
25. 25.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the winner’s prize (c) the topic statement (d) the timekeeper
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
29. 29.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
30. 30.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
33. 33.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
34. 34.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
37. 37.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
38. 38.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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