Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 552 · 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 spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
3. 3.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
4. 4.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) two sides to argue (c) a hidden answer (d) one right answer
7. 7.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
11. 11.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the audience
12. 12.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
15. 15.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
17. 17.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
18. 18.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
20. 20.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Dear diary…”
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
22. 22.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
25. 25.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the last speech (c) the timekeeper (d) the topic statement
26. 26.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
34. 34.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
40. 40.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True

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