Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 281 · 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 would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
2. 2.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
3. 3.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
4. 4.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
7. 7.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
10. 10.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
11. 11.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
13. 13.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
14. 14.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the audience
15. 15.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
18. 18.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
20. 20.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) two sides to argue (c) one right answer (d) a hidden answer
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
22. 22.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the opposition
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
24. 24.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
27. 27.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
28. 28.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
32. 32.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
33. 33.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the topic statement (c) the last speech (d) the timekeeper
36. 36.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “This House…”
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
38. 38.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
40. 40.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition

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