Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

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

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