Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 110 · 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 summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
4. 4.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Dear diary…”
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
7. 7.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
8. 8.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
11. 11.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
12. 12.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
13. 13.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
17. 17.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
20. 20.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
22. 22.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the topic statement (c) the last speech (d) the timekeeper
23. 23.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
24. 24.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
33. 33.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
35. 35.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
36. 36.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words

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