Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 118 · 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 would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
4. 4.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
9. 9.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
12. 12.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the proposition
13. 13.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
14. 14.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
18. 18.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
19. 19.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the last speech (c) the timekeeper (d) the winner’s prize
22. 22.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
26. 26.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
31. 31.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
32. 32.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Dear diary…”
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
38. 38.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) two sides to argue (c) one right answer (d) no clear meaning
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
40. 40.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition

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