Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 275 · 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 is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
4. 4.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
7. 7.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
9. 9.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
10. 10.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) a hidden answer (c) one right answer (d) two sides to argue
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
16. 16.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
17. 17.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the last speech (c) the topic statement (d) the winner’s prize
18. 18.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
19. 19.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
20. 20.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
31. 31.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
32. 32.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
35. 35.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
37. 37.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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