Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 726 · 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 Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
7. 7.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
8. 8.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
10. 10.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
12. 12.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
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
14. 14.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
15. 15.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
16. 16.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the topic statement (c) the timekeeper (d) the winner’s prize
17. 17.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
18. 18.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
21. 21.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the judges
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
25. 25.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
26. 26.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
39. 39.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”

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