Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 607 · 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 words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Dear diary…”
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
4. 4.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
7. 7.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
10. 10.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
11. 11.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
13. 13.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
16. 16.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) no clear meaning (c) one right answer (d) a hidden answer
17. 17.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
19. 19.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the opposition
20. 20.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the topic statement (c) the winner’s prize (d) the timekeeper
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
24. 24.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
32. 32.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion

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