Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 377 · 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 words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Breaking news…”
2. 2.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
6. 6.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
9. 9.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the topic statement (c) the winner’s prize (d) the timekeeper
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
14. 14.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
16. 16.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
17. 17.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
25. 25.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
26. 26.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
31. 31.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
34. 34.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
36. 36.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
38. 38.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
40. 40.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition

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