Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 811 · 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.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
4. 4.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
7. 7.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
8. 8.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
14. 14.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
20. 20.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
21. 21.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
23. 23.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
27. 27.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) no clear meaning (c) two sides to argue (d) one right answer
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
31. 31.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
33. 33.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
36. 36.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
37. 37.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
39. 39.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the judges
40. 40.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Breaking news…”

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