Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 166 · 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.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
3. 3.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
7. 7.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
11. 11.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the winner’s prize (c) the last speech (d) the topic statement
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
15. 15.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
17. 17.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
18. 18.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
22. 22.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
24. 24.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the opposition
25. 25.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
26. 26.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
29. 29.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
30. 30.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
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.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True

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