Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 631 · 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 replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
4. 4.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
8. 8.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
9. 9.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
12. 12.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) a hidden answer (c) two sides to argue (d) one right answer
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
17. 17.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
18. 18.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
20. 20.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the audience
27. 27.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the winner’s prize (c) the timekeeper (d) the last speech
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
29. 29.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
30. 30.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
34. 34.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the audience
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (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 believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False

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