Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 816 · 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) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
2. 2.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
6. 6.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
7. 7.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
15. 15.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
21. 21.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
24. 24.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
25. 25.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
27. 27.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) must prove the motion
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
37. 37.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the opposition
38. 38.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True

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