Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 731 · 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) debatable (b) not debatable
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
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.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
7. 7.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
9. 9.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
13. 13.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) a hidden answer (c) two sides to argue (d) one right answer
14. 14.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
16. 16.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the timekeeper (c) the last speech (d) the topic statement
17. 17.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
20. 20.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
21. 21.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
25. 25.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Breaking news…”
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
28. 28.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
29. 29.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
32. 32.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
40. 40.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True

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