Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 495 · 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 side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Breaking news…”
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
5. 5.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
6. 6.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the winner’s prize (c) the last speech (d) the topic statement
7. 7.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
8. 8.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
10. 10.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
11. 11.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
12. 12.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) a hidden answer (c) two sides to argue (d) one right answer
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
14. 14.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
17. 17.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
27. 27.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) must disprove the motion
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must prove the motion
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
40. 40.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the proposition

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