Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 301 · 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 cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
4. 4.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the audience
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
6. 6.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) a hidden answer (c) no clear meaning (d) two sides to argue
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
8. 8.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
10. 10.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
11. 11.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
12. 12.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
15. 15.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
16. 16.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
19. 19.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
23. 23.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
25. 25.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
26. 26.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
31. 31.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “This House…”
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
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.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False

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