Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 81 · 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 would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
4. 4.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
5. 5.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
6. 6.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
7. 7.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
8. 8.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
9. 9.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
10. 10.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
14. 14.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
15. 15.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
19. 19.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
20. 20.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
21. 21.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
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 believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
25. 25.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
29. 29.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
30. 30.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the proposition
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
36. 36.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the topic statement (c) the last speech (d) the winner’s prize
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True

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