Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 577 · 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 board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
2. 2.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) one right answer (c) a hidden answer (d) two sides to argue
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
7. 7.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
9. 9.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
10. 10.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
11. 11.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
14. 14.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
18. 18.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the winner’s prize (c) the last speech (d) the topic statement
24. 24.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
25. 25.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
28. 28.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
30. 30.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must prove the motion
33. 33.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
34. 34.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
35. 35.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
39. 39.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
40. 40.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition

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