Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 449 · 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 spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
2. 2.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
3. 3.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
4. 4.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
6. 6.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) two sides to argue (c) no clear meaning (d) a hidden answer
7. 7.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
10. 10.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the last speech (c) the winner’s prize (d) the topic statement
11. 11.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
13. 13.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the judges
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
16. 16.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
19. 19.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
20. 20.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
25. 25.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
29. 29.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Breaking news…”
33. 33.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
35. 35.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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