Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

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

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