Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 622 · 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 start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
4. 4.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
6. 6.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) no clear meaning (c) two sides to argue (d) one right answer
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
16. 16.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the judges
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
18. 18.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
19. 19.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
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) is against the motion
21. 21.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the judges
22. 22.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the winner’s prize (c) the last speech (d) the timekeeper
28. 28.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
29. 29.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
30. 30.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
31. 31.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
33. 33.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
35. 35.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “This House…”
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
39. 39.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
40. 40.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition

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