Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 948 · 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 summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
6. 6.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
7. 7.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
10. 10.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the judges
11. 11.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) no clear meaning (c) a hidden answer (d) two sides to argue
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
14. 14.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
16. 16.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
20. 20.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
22. 22.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
24. 24.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
28. 28.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
29. 29.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
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 is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
35. 35.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
36. 36.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
38. 38.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
39. 39.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Breaking news…”
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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