Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 111 · 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 every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
2. 2.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
9. 9.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
10. 10.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
11. 11.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
13. 13.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
14. 14.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
16. 16.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
18. 18.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the winner’s prize (c) the topic statement (d) the timekeeper
19. 19.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the proposition
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
22. 22.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) two sides to argue (c) a hidden answer (d) no clear meaning
23. 23.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
25. 25.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
26. 26.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the audience
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
30. 30.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
31. 31.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition

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