Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 412 · 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 of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
2. 2.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
5. 5.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
9. 9.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
10. 10.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) two sides to argue (c) one right answer (d) a hidden answer
11. 11.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
12. 12.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
14. 14.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
16. 16.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
17. 17.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the last speech (c) the timekeeper (d) the topic statement
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
25. 25.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
26. 26.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
27. 27.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
29. 29.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Dear diary…”
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
31. 31.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
38. 38.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the proposition
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True

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