Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 411 · 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 board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
9. 9.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) must prove the motion
12. 12.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
14. 14.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the proposition
15. 15.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
17. 17.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must prove the motion
20. 20.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
22. 22.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
23. 23.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the last speech (c) the winner’s prize (d) the topic statement
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) no clear meaning (c) one right answer (d) two sides to argue
26. 26.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
27. 27.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
28. 28.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Breaking news…”
29. 29.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
30. 30.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
33. 33.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
38. 38.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
40. 40.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True

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