Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 861 · 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 is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
4. 4.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
7. 7.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the last speech (c) the topic statement (d) the winner’s prize
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
11. 11.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the opposition
12. 12.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
13. 13.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
15. 15.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
16. 16.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
17. 17.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
19. 19.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Dear diary…”
20. 20.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
25. 25.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
34. 34.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
38. 38.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
39. 39.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False

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