Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 940 · 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 believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
4. 4.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
7. 7.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
9. 9.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
11. 11.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
13. 13.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
15. 15.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
17. 17.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
20. 20.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Dear diary…”
21. 21.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) two sides to argue (c) no clear meaning (d) a hidden answer
22. 22.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
31. 31.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the audience
35. 35.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the last speech (c) the winner’s prize (d) the timekeeper
36. 36.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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