Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 559 · 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 would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
2. 2.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
4. 4.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
7. 7.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
11. 11.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the proposition
12. 12.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
13. 13.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) no clear meaning (c) two sides to argue (d) a hidden answer
14. 14.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
17. 17.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
18. 18.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
19. 19.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
24. 24.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
27. 27.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the timekeeper (c) the winner’s prize (d) the last speech
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
34. 34.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
39. 39.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
40. 40.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition

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