Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 105 · 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 the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
2. 2.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
3. 3.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
5. 5.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
7. 7.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the audience
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
10. 10.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
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 opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
14. 14.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
18. 18.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
22. 22.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
23. 23.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Breaking news…”
24. 24.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
29. 29.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
32. 32.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
37. 37.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) two sides to argue (c) one right answer (d) no clear meaning
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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