Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

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

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