Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 143 · 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 a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
5. 5.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
6. 6.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the topic statement (c) the timekeeper (d) the winner’s prize
7. 7.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
8. 8.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
10. 10.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
11. 11.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
14. 14.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
15. 15.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
17. 17.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the proposition
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
20. 20.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
21. 21.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
24. 24.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
28. 28.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
30. 30.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
32. 32.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
33. 33.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the judges
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Breaking news…”
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False

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