Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 740 · 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 summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
2. 2.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
3. 3.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the topic statement (c) the timekeeper (d) the last speech
4. 4.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) two sides to argue (c) one right answer (d) a hidden answer
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
7. 7.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
10. 10.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the proposition
11. 11.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
13. 13.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
15. 15.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
20. 20.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
22. 22.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
23. 23.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
32. 32.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Dear diary…”
33. 33.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
37. 37.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
40. 40.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition

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