Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 253 · 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 a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
2. 2.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
3. 3.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
5. 5.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the judges
6. 6.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
7. 7.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
8. 8.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
12. 12.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the last speech (c) the timekeeper (d) the topic statement
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
14. 14.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
17. 17.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
19. 19.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
21. 21.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) no clear meaning (c) two sides to argue (d) a hidden answer
22. 22.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “This House…”
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
34. 34.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
35. 35.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
37. 37.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
38. 38.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the opposition
39. 39.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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