Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 969 · 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 spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the timekeeper (c) the winner’s prize (d) the topic statement
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
4. 4.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
7. 7.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) two sides to argue (c) a hidden answer (d) no clear meaning
10. 10.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the opposition
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
14. 14.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
16. 16.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
17. 17.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Breaking news…”
18. 18.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
20. 20.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
21. 21.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
24. 24.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
25. 25.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
30. 30.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
34. 34.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the audience
35. 35.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
36. 36.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
40. 40.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition

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