Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 97 · 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.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
4. 4.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
5. 5.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
6. 6.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
7. 7.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
8. 8.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
9. 9.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) two sides to argue (c) no clear meaning (d) one right answer
10. 10.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
12. 12.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Breaking news…”
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
14. 14.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the proposition
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the timekeeper (c) the topic statement (d) the winner’s prize
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
29. 29.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
30. 30.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
32. 32.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
35. 35.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
37. 37.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition
38. 38.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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