Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 783 · 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 every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
2. 2.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
3. 3.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the proposition
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
10. 10.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
13. 13.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
18. 18.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
19. 19.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
20. 20.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the audience
21. 21.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
24. 24.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the timekeeper (c) the topic statement (d) the last speech
25. 25.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) no clear meaning (c) one right answer (d) two sides to argue
26. 26.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
29. 29.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
33. 33.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
38. 38.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) must prove the motion
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition

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