Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 432 · 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 cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
2. 2.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the topic statement (c) the winner’s prize (d) the last speech
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
4. 4.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
6. 6.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
7. 7.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the opposition
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
16. 16.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
20. 20.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
21. 21.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
26. 26.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
27. 27.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
29. 29.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition

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