Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 954 · 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 a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
2. 2.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
4. 4.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
6. 6.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the last speech (c) the topic statement (d) the timekeeper
7. 7.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
9. 9.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
10. 10.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
11. 11.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
14. 14.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
16. 16.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
17. 17.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
25. 25.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
27. 27.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
29. 29.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
30. 30.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
33. 33.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the judges
35. 35.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
36. 36.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
39. 39.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True

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