Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 937 · 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.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
4. 4.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
7. 7.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
8. 8.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
9. 9.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
10. 10.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
13. 13.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
14. 14.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
16. 16.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
19. 19.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) a hidden answer (c) no clear meaning (d) two sides to argue
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
23. 23.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
24. 24.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
25. 25.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the topic statement (c) the timekeeper (d) the winner’s prize
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
30. 30.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Dear diary…”
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
32. 32.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
33. 33.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
38. 38.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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