Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 932 · 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 a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
3. 3.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
4. 4.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
6. 6.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
7. 7.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
8. 8.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
10. 10.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
11. 11.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
13. 13.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
15. 15.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
16. 16.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
22. 22.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the winner’s prize (c) the topic statement (d) the last speech
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
28. 28.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
35. 35.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Breaking news…”
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the proposition
38. 38.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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