Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 56 · 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 cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
5. 5.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
7. 7.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
10. 10.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the proposition
11. 11.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
12. 12.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Dear diary…”
13. 13.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
14. 14.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
16. 16.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the topic statement (c) the timekeeper (d) the winner’s prize
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
18. 18.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
19. 19.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
20. 20.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) two sides to argue (c) a hidden answer (d) one right answer
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
27. 27.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
28. 28.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
29. 29.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False

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