Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 460 · 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 is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
2. 2.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
3. 3.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
7. 7.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
12. 12.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
16. 16.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
19. 19.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
25. 25.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the opposition
26. 26.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
31. 31.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
32. 32.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
37. 37.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the topic statement (c) the timekeeper (d) the last speech
38. 38.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True

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