Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 885 · 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 Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
3. 3.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the winner’s prize (c) the topic statement (d) the timekeeper
4. 4.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
6. 6.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
7. 7.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
9. 9.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
11. 11.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
12. 12.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
14. 14.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
15. 15.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
17. 17.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the opposition
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
20. 20.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
22. 22.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
23. 23.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
26. 26.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the proposition
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Breaking news…”
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
37. 37.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) one right answer (c) no clear meaning (d) a hidden answer
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition

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