Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 638 · 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 the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
4. 4.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
5. 5.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
9. 9.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
12. 12.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
16. 16.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
17. 17.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
19. 19.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
20. 20.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) two sides to argue (c) a hidden answer (d) one right answer
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
25. 25.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
28. 28.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
30. 30.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
31. 31.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True

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