Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 112 · 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 summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
4. 4.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
5. 5.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
6. 6.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
7. 7.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the last speech (c) the topic statement (d) the timekeeper
8. 8.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Breaking news…”
9. 9.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the judges
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
15. 15.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
17. 17.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
20. 20.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) two sides to argue (c) one right answer (d) a hidden answer
21. 21.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
22. 22.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
28. 28.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
33. 33.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
34. 34.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
38. 38.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
39. 39.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False

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