Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 625 · 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 a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
2. 2.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
3. 3.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
4. 4.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the timekeeper (c) the winner’s prize (d) the topic statement
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
7. 7.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) no clear meaning (c) a hidden answer (d) two sides to argue
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
9. 9.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the proposition
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
15. 15.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
20. 20.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
27. 27.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
29. 29.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
31. 31.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
32. 32.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
36. 36.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
37. 37.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Breaking news…”
38. 38.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
40. 40.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the proposition

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