Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 70 · 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 a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
5. 5.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
7. 7.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “This House…”
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) one right answer (c) two sides to argue (d) a hidden answer
14. 14.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the proposition
15. 15.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the last speech (c) the topic statement (d) the timekeeper
16. 16.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
17. 17.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
18. 18.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the opposition
19. 19.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
24. 24.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
28. 28.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
29. 29.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
35. 35.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
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 would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion

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