Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 474 · 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 the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
4. 4.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
5. 5.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
7. 7.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
11. 11.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the winner’s prize (c) the last speech (d) the topic statement
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
15. 15.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
16. 16.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
17. 17.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
26. 26.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
27. 27.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
28. 28.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
29. 29.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
33. 33.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
38. 38.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”

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