Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 159 · 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 a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) a hidden answer (c) no clear meaning (d) two sides to argue
3. 3.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
4. 4.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
8. 8.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
13. 13.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
16. 16.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
19. 19.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
20. 20.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
22. 22.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
25. 25.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
26. 26.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
28. 28.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
30. 30.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
31. 31.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
33. 33.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
39. 39.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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