Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 771 · 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 ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
2. 2.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
7. 7.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
9. 9.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
10. 10.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
15. 15.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
17. 17.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
21. 21.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the topic statement (c) the last speech (d) the timekeeper
22. 22.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
23. 23.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
25. 25.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Breaking news…”
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
29. 29.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
30. 30.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
37. 37.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
40. 40.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”

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