Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 90 · 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 would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
2. 2.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
4. 4.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Dear diary…”
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
7. 7.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the judges
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
9. 9.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
10. 10.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
14. 14.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
16. 16.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must prove the motion
18. 18.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) one right answer (c) a hidden answer (d) no clear meaning
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
23. 23.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
25. 25.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
26. 26.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
34. 34.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the last speech (c) the topic statement (d) the winner’s prize
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False

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