Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 215 · 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.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the topic statement (c) the last speech (d) the timekeeper
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
5. 5.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
6. 6.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
7. 7.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
11. 11.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
14. 14.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the audience
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the judges
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
26. 26.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
27. 27.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition
28. 28.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
35. 35.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) no clear meaning (c) one right answer (d) two sides to argue
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Dear diary…”

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