Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 190 · 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 summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
4. 4.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
7. 7.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
9. 9.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
10. 10.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
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 believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
15. 15.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) no clear meaning (c) one right answer (d) a hidden answer
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the timekeeper (c) the winner’s prize (d) the topic statement
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
20. 20.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
24. 24.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
25. 25.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
28. 28.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
32. 32.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
35. 35.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
37. 37.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
38. 38.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”

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