Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 224 · 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 side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
4. 4.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
7. 7.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
8. 8.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
9. 9.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
10. 10.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
11. 11.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) two sides to argue (c) one right answer (d) a hidden answer
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
14. 14.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the proposition
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
17. 17.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
18. 18.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
19. 19.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the last speech (c) the winner’s prize (d) the topic statement
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
27. 27.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
31. 31.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
32. 32.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.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) must disprove the motion
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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