Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 437 · 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.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
2. 2.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
3. 3.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Dear diary…”
7. 7.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
13. 13.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
16. 16.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
22. 22.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the timekeeper (c) the topic statement (d) the winner’s prize
23. 23.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
24. 24.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
27. 27.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
29. 29.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the judges
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
32. 32.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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