Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 997 · 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 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
2. 2.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
4. 4.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the audience
5. 5.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
9. 9.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition
14. 14.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
15. 15.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
18. 18.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the judges
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
20. 20.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
21. 21.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Dear diary…”
27. 27.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
30. 30.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
33. 33.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
36. 36.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
38. 38.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
39. 39.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition

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