Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 121 · 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 Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
2. 2.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
3. 3.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) no clear meaning (c) two sides to argue (d) one right answer
4. 4.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
7. 7.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the audience
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
9. 9.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
10. 10.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
12. 12.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
13. 13.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
14. 14.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the winner’s prize (c) the timekeeper (d) the last speech
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
16. 16.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “This House…”
17. 17.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
22. 22.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
25. 25.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
26. 26.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the judges
27. 27.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
29. 29.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
34. 34.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
36. 36.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
38. 38.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
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 propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition

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