Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 820 · 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.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
3. 3.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
6. 6.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
11. 11.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
13. 13.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
17. 17.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
18. 18.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the topic statement (c) the last speech (d) the timekeeper
19. 19.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the opposition
21. 21.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
23. 23.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
27. 27.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
31. 31.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) one right answer (c) two sides to argue (d) a hidden answer
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True

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