Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 74 · 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 summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
2. 2.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
3. 3.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the timekeeper (c) the topic statement (d) the last speech
4. 4.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
5. 5.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
7. 7.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
8. 8.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
14. 14.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
15. 15.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
17. 17.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
19. 19.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
20. 20.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
22. 22.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
29. 29.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
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.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition

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