Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 119 · 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 board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
2. 2.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
3. 3.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
4. 4.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the opposition
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
7. 7.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
14. 14.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) a hidden answer (c) two sides to argue (d) no clear meaning
15. 15.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
16. 16.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
20. 20.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
22. 22.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
23. 23.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must prove the motion
24. 24.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
27. 27.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the last speech (c) the topic statement (d) the timekeeper
28. 28.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
31. 31.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
33. 33.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True

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