Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 122 · 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 not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the timekeeper (c) the topic statement (d) the last speech
3. 3.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
7. 7.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
12. 12.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) two sides to argue (c) a hidden answer (d) no clear meaning
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
15. 15.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
16. 16.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
18. 18.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
21. 21.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
24. 24.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the proposition
29. 29.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “This House…”
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
37. 37.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
39. 39.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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