Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 775 · 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 the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
3. 3.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
4. 4.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
7. 7.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
8. 8.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
9. 9.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
10. 10.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the winner’s prize (c) the topic statement (d) the last speech
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
20. 20.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
21. 21.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
22. 22.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
24. 24.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) a hidden answer (c) no clear meaning (d) two sides to argue
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
26. 26.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
31. 31.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
36. 36.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
37. 37.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False

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