Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 891 · 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.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
4. 4.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
5. 5.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
9. 9.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
15. 15.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the topic statement (c) the last speech (d) the winner’s prize
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
20. 20.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
21. 21.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
22. 22.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the judges
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
25. 25.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
26. 26.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
27. 27.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the judges
33. 33.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
35. 35.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
38. 38.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) two sides to argue (c) no clear meaning (d) one right answer
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
40. 40.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion

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