Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 900 · 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.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
2. 2.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
3. 3.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
4. 4.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
5. 5.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the audience
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
15. 15.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
16. 16.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
17. 17.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
18. 18.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
19. 19.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
20. 20.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Breaking news…”
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
25. 25.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
26. 26.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) one right answer (c) no clear meaning (d) two sides to argue
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
35. 35.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
38. 38.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the winner’s prize (c) the timekeeper (d) the last speech
39. 39.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
40. 40.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False

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