Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 595 · 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.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
2. 2.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
3. 3.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
5. 5.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) a hidden answer (c) no clear meaning (d) one right answer
6. 6.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “This House…”
7. 7.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
8. 8.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
9. 9.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
10. 10.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the timekeeper (c) the topic statement (d) the last speech
11. 11.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
12. 12.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
13. 13.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
15. 15.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
24. 24.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
30. 30.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
32. 32.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
33. 33.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
34. 34.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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