Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 116 · 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 Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
5. 5.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
6. 6.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
7. 7.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
12. 12.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
14. 14.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
16. 16.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Dear diary…”
17. 17.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
18. 18.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
19. 19.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
22. 22.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the judges
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
26. 26.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
29. 29.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the topic statement (c) the last speech (d) the timekeeper
30. 30.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
31. 31.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
33. 33.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
37. 37.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) two sides to argue (c) a hidden answer (d) no clear meaning
38. 38.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
39. 39.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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