Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 124 · 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 a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
3. 3.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
5. 5.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
6. 6.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
7. 7.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the judges
8. 8.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
10. 10.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
15. 15.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
16. 16.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
17. 17.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
21. 21.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the opposition
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
25. 25.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
28. 28.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”
29. 29.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the timekeeper (c) the last speech (d) the winner’s prize
31. 31.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
32. 32.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
33. 33.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
38. 38.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Once upon a time…”

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