Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 106 · 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 week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
2. 2.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must prove the motion
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
8. 8.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “This House…”
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
10. 10.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) one right answer (c) no clear meaning (d) two sides to argue
11. 11.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
14. 14.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
16. 16.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
17. 17.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
18. 18.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the winner’s prize (c) the last speech (d) the timekeeper
19. 19.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
20. 20.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the audience
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
24. 24.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
27. 27.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
29. 29.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
36. 36.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
38. 38.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
39. 39.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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