Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 630 · 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 every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
2. 2.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
4. 4.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
5. 5.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
6. 6.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
8. 8.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “This House…”
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
13. 13.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) a hidden answer (c) no clear meaning (d) one right answer
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
15. 15.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
16. 16.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
17. 17.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
20. 20.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
21. 21.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
22. 22.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
23. 23.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
27. 27.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the last speech (c) the winner’s prize (d) the topic statement
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False

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