Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 79 · 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 believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
2. 2.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
3. 3.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
4. 4.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
5. 5.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
8. 8.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
10. 10.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
12. 12.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
13. 13.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
16. 16.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
19. 19.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
20. 20.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
23. 23.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the topic statement (c) the winner’s prize (d) the timekeeper
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
26. 26.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) a hidden answer (c) no clear meaning (d) two sides to argue
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
34. 34.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
35. 35.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
37. 37.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
39. 39.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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