Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 441 · 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 summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
5. 5.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
6. 6.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
7. 7.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the last speech (c) the timekeeper (d) the topic statement
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
10. 10.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
11. 11.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
14. 14.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
17. 17.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
18. 18.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
19. 19.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the audience
22. 22.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
23. 23.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) no clear meaning (c) two sides to argue (d) one right answer
24. 24.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
26. 26.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
28. 28.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the opposition
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
30. 30.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
31. 31.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
35. 35.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
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 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

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