Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 287 · 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 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
16. 16.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
19. 19.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
21. 21.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the proposition
22. 22.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
24. 24.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Dear diary…”
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
26. 26.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
27. 27.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
28. 28.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
29. 29.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) one right answer (c) two sides to argue (d) no clear meaning
30. 30.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
33. 33.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
34. 34.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
35. 35.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
36. 36.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False

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