Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 148 · 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 opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
2. 2.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the timekeeper (c) the winner’s prize (d) the topic statement
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
4. 4.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the opposition
5. 5.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
6. 6.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
9. 9.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
15. 15.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
19. 19.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
22. 22.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
23. 23.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) one right answer (c) no clear meaning (d) a hidden answer
25. 25.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
32. 32.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
35. 35.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
36. 36.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion

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