Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 494 · 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 is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
2. 2.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) no clear meaning (c) one right answer (d) a hidden answer
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
5. 5.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
7. 7.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
8. 8.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
9. 9.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
10. 10.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
13. 13.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
14. 14.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
16. 16.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
18. 18.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the winner’s prize (c) the topic statement (d) the timekeeper
20. 20.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
22. 22.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition
23. 23.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
25. 25.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
26. 26.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
27. 27.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Dear diary…”
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
30. 30.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.🔍 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
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
39. 39.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True

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