Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 845 · 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 defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
2. 2.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
4. 4.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
5. 5.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
6. 6.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
7. 7.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
8. 8.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
9. 9.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
10. 10.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
13. 13.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
14. 14.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
15. 15.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the winner’s prize (c) the last speech (d) the topic statement
16. 16.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) no clear meaning (c) one right answer (d) two sides to argue
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
19. 19.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
20. 20.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
22. 22.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
23. 23.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
28. 28.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Breaking news…”
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the proposition
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
35. 35.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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