Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 605 · 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 every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
3. 3.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
4. 4.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the winner’s prize (c) the topic statement (d) the timekeeper
5. 5.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
11. 11.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
13. 13.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
14. 14.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) two sides to argue (c) a hidden answer (d) one right answer
15. 15.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Dear diary…”
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
24. 24.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
25. 25.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
27. 27.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
28. 28.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
29. 29.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
33. 33.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the audience
34. 34.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
40. 40.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first

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