Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

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

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