Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

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

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