Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 831 · 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) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Dear diary…”
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
4. 4.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the winner’s prize (c) the topic statement (d) the timekeeper
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
6. 6.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
7. 7.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
10. 10.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
13. 13.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) no clear meaning (c) one right answer (d) a hidden answer
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the judges
24. 24.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
27. 27.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
29. 29.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
30. 30.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
33. 33.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
34. 34.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
35. 35.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion

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