Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 206 · 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 believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the topic statement (c) the winner’s prize (d) the timekeeper
4. 4.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
6. 6.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the judges
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
8. 8.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
10. 10.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the proposition
11. 11.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
13. 13.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
14. 14.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
15. 15.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
19. 19.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
24. 24.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
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.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) a hidden answer (c) no clear meaning (d) one right answer
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
35. 35.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
39. 39.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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