Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 582 · 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 believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
2. 2.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
3. 3.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
4. 4.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
7. 7.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “This House…”
8. 8.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
11. 11.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
15. 15.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
16. 16.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
20. 20.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
27. 27.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the last speech (c) the timekeeper (d) the winner’s prize
28. 28.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
30. 30.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
34. 34.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) a hidden answer (c) two sides to argue (d) no clear meaning
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False

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