Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 482 · 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 believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
5. 5.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the audience
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
7. 7.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
8. 8.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the proposition
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
12. 12.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
13. 13.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the last speech (c) the topic statement (d) the timekeeper
15. 15.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
19. 19.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
22. 22.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Breaking news…”
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
25. 25.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) a hidden answer (c) one right answer (d) no clear meaning
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
31. 31.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
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.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
39. 39.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True

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