Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 560 · 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 summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
3. 3.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
7. 7.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
9. 9.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
13. 13.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
14. 14.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the winner’s prize (c) the last speech (d) the topic statement
15. 15.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
16. 16.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
18. 18.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
20. 20.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”
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
23. 23.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
24. 24.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
25. 25.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the audience
26. 26.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
27. 27.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the judges
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
30. 30.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
32. 32.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
33. 33.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
35. 35.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
40. 40.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition

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