Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 104 · 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 ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
2. 2.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Dear diary…”
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
4. 4.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the last speech (c) the winner’s prize (d) the timekeeper
9. 9.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
15. 15.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
16. 16.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
25. 25.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
35. 35.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
36. 36.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) two sides to argue (c) a hidden answer (d) one right answer
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
38. 38.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
39. 39.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the judges
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first

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