Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 80 · 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 the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
4. 4.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
5. 5.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
7. 7.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
10. 10.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
11. 11.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
12. 12.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the winner’s prize (c) the timekeeper (d) the topic statement
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
14. 14.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
15. 15.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
16. 16.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
19. 19.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
26. 26.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
28. 28.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the opposition
29. 29.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
33. 33.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
34. 34.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
35. 35.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
38. 38.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
39. 39.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words

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