Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 834 · 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 side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
4. 4.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the judges
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
8. 8.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
9. 9.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
11. 11.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) a hidden answer (c) no clear meaning (d) one right answer
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
14. 14.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
15. 15.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
17. 17.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) must prove the motion
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
20. 20.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
24. 24.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Breaking news…”
31. 31.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
32. 32.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
35. 35.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
39. 39.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion

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