Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 78 · 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 cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
2. 2.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the opposition
3. 3.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
7. 7.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
10. 10.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the opposition
11. 11.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
15. 15.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) two sides to argue (c) one right answer (d) no clear meaning
16. 16.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
17. 17.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) must disprove the motion
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
20. 20.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
22. 22.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
23. 23.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the timekeeper (c) the topic statement (d) the last speech
24. 24.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
29. 29.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
34. 34.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
36. 36.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
39. 39.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False

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