Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 655 · 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 would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
2. 2.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
4. 4.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
6. 6.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) two sides to argue (c) a hidden answer (d) one right answer
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
15. 15.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
16. 16.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
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 for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the audience
20. 20.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
21. 21.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
24. 24.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
25. 25.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
28. 28.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
30. 30.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the timekeeper (c) the last speech (d) the topic statement
33. 33.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False

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