Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 363 · 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 year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
2. 2.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
4. 4.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
7. 7.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) two sides to argue (c) a hidden answer (d) one right answer
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
9. 9.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the topic statement (c) the last speech (d) the winner’s prize
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
14. 14.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
17. 17.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
18. 18.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the judges
19. 19.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
20. 20.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
25. 25.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
26. 26.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
27. 27.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
29. 29.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True

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