Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 64 · 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 a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
2. 2.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
3. 3.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Breaking news…”
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
6. 6.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) no clear meaning (c) one right answer (d) a hidden answer
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must prove the motion
10. 10.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
11. 11.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
16. 16.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
17. 17.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
22. 22.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
23. 23.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
24. 24.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
25. 25.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the last speech (c) the timekeeper (d) the winner’s prize
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
31. 31.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the proposition
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must prove the motion
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
35. 35.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.🔍 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”
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False

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