Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 151 · 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 the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
2. 2.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
3. 3.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Dear diary…”
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
5. 5.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
8. 8.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the topic statement (c) the last speech (d) the timekeeper
10. 10.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
12. 12.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the judges
13. 13.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
14. 14.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
15. 15.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
17. 17.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
20. 20.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
25. 25.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
26. 26.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
27. 27.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
30. 30.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
31. 31.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
32. 32.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the proposition
33. 33.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
36. 36.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
39. 39.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True

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