Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 734 · 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 words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Breaking news…”
3. 3.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
4. 4.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
7. 7.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
8. 8.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) no clear meaning (c) one right answer (d) a hidden answer
10. 10.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
11. 11.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the proposition
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
14. 14.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
17. 17.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the timekeeper (c) the last speech (d) the winner’s prize
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
19. 19.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
20. 20.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
22. 22.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
28. 28.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.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
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
36. 36.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
37. 37.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the opposition
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition

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