Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 450 · 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 would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
3. 3.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) a hidden answer (c) no clear meaning (d) one right answer
8. 8.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the last speech (c) the timekeeper (d) the topic statement
9. 9.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
10. 10.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
12. 12.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
15. 15.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
19. 19.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
24. 24.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
25. 25.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the opposition
26. 26.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
28. 28.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
29. 29.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
31. 31.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
32. 32.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
34. 34.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
37. 37.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
38. 38.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
40. 40.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition

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