Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 800 · 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.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
6. 6.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
7. 7.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Dear diary…”
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
10. 10.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the judges
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
20. 20.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
22. 22.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the topic statement (c) the last speech (d) the timekeeper
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
24. 24.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
26. 26.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
29. 29.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
33. 33.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
34. 34.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
39. 39.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True

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