Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 724 · 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 the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
4. 4.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “This House…”
5. 5.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
7. 7.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
9. 9.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
11. 11.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) two sides to argue (c) no clear meaning (d) a hidden answer
12. 12.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
13. 13.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
14. 14.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
15. 15.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
19. 19.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the winner’s prize (c) the timekeeper (d) the last speech
20. 20.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
22. 22.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
23. 23.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the proposition
24. 24.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
27. 27.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the opposition
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
39. 39.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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