Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 637 · 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 a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
4. 4.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
5. 5.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
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 homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
8. 8.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
9. 9.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
10. 10.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
14. 14.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
16. 16.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Breaking news…”
17. 17.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
21. 21.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
22. 22.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) a hidden answer (c) two sides to argue (d) no clear meaning
23. 23.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
26. 26.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
30. 30.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
35. 35.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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