Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 426 · 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.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
2. 2.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
4. 4.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
7. 7.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
8. 8.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
9. 9.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
11. 11.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
13. 13.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
14. 14.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
16. 16.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
18. 18.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
19. 19.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) no clear meaning (c) two sides to argue (d) one right answer
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
28. 28.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the audience
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
37. 37.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the topic statement (c) the winner’s prize (d) the last speech
38. 38.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False

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