Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 88 · 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 every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
4. 4.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
5. 5.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the opposition
8. 8.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) no clear meaning (c) one right answer (d) two sides to argue
9. 9.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
11. 11.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the winner’s prize (c) the topic statement (d) the last speech
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
15. 15.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
16. 16.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
17. 17.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
18. 18.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
23. 23.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
24. 24.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
27. 27.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
28. 28.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Dear diary…”
29. 29.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
32. 32.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
33. 33.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
36. 36.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”

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