Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 970 · 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 every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
15. 15.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
17. 17.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
19. 19.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Dear diary…”
20. 20.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
22. 22.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
24. 24.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) one right answer (c) two sides to argue (d) a hidden answer
25. 25.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
27. 27.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
28. 28.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
30. 30.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” 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 timekeeper (c) the topic statement (d) the last speech
39. 39.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the judges
40. 40.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False

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