Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 470 · 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 of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
4. 4.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
6. 6.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “This House…”
7. 7.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
8. 8.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
10. 10.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
12. 12.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the last speech (c) the winner’s prize (d) the topic statement
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
15. 15.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
16. 16.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
18. 18.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
19. 19.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
22. 22.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
23. 23.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
24. 24.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
25. 25.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
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 believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
30. 30.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
32. 32.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
35. 35.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the proposition
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) one right answer (c) a hidden answer (d) two sides to argue
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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