Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 160 · 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.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
4. 4.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
10. 10.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Dear diary…”
11. 11.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) two sides to argue (c) one right answer (d) no clear meaning
12. 12.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the judges
13. 13.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
14. 14.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
15. 15.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
17. 17.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
20. 20.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
21. 21.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
32. 32.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
35. 35.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the topic statement (c) the winner’s prize (d) the timekeeper
36. 36.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words

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