Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 882 · 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 believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the topic statement (c) the timekeeper (d) the winner’s prize
3. 3.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
8. 8.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
9. 9.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
10. 10.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
13. 13.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
14. 14.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
15. 15.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
16. 16.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
17. 17.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) must prove the motion
19. 19.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Breaking news…”
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
25. 25.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
27. 27.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) no clear meaning (c) one right answer (d) a hidden answer
28. 28.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
32. 32.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
35. 35.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
36. 36.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
37. 37.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True

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