Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 788 · 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.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the proposition
2. 2.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) no clear meaning (c) a hidden answer (d) two sides to argue
3. 3.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
4. 4.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
10. 10.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
18. 18.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
29. 29.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
32. 32.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the timekeeper (c) the winner’s prize (d) the topic statement
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
35. 35.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
37. 37.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
40. 40.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition

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