Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 796 · 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.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
5. 5.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
6. 6.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) two sides to argue (c) one right answer (d) a hidden answer
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
8. 8.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition
9. 9.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Dear diary…”
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
11. 11.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
16. 16.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
17. 17.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
18. 18.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the last speech (c) the timekeeper (d) the winner’s prize
19. 19.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
26. 26.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
28. 28.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
29. 29.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
32. 32.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
33. 33.🔍 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
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
35. 35.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
38. 38.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
40. 40.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True

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