Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 947 · 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 ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
2. 2.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the proposition
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must prove the motion
4. 4.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “This House…”
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
7. 7.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
9. 9.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
12. 12.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
14. 14.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
16. 16.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
20. 20.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) a hidden answer (c) no clear meaning (d) two sides to argue
21. 21.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
22. 22.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
24. 24.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the judges
25. 25.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
26. 26.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
29. 29.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the last speech (c) the timekeeper (d) the topic statement
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False

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