Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 766 · 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 would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
9. 9.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the opposition
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the topic statement (c) the last speech (d) the timekeeper
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
14. 14.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
16. 16.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
18. 18.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
20. 20.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “This House…”
23. 23.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
26. 26.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
27. 27.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
28. 28.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) one right answer (c) two sides to argue (d) no clear meaning
32. 32.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
33. 33.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
34. 34.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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