Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 896 · 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.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
2. 2.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
3. 3.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
4. 4.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
7. 7.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
10. 10.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
13. 13.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
16. 16.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
17. 17.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
18. 18.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
21. 21.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) no clear meaning (c) two sides to argue (d) one right answer
22. 22.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
25. 25.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
29. 29.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
31. 31.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “This House…”
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
38. 38.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words

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