Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 117 · 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 would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
2. 2.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
3. 3.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
5. 5.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the topic statement (c) the timekeeper (d) the last speech
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
7. 7.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
10. 10.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
11. 11.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
12. 12.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.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
14. 14.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
15. 15.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
17. 17.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
19. 19.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
26. 26.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
27. 27.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
28. 28.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
31. 31.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
32. 32.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
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 homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition

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