Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 300 · 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 every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
3. 3.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
5. 5.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
7. 7.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
9. 9.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the topic statement (c) the winner’s prize (d) the last speech
10. 10.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the judges
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
14. 14.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
19. 19.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
20. 20.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
21. 21.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
26. 26.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Breaking news…”
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
28. 28.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) no clear meaning (c) two sides to argue (d) one right answer
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
31. 31.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
32. 32.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
37. 37.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
40. 40.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion

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