Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 943 · 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 give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
7. 7.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
9. 9.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
10. 10.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
15. 15.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
20. 20.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
21. 21.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
24. 24.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) a hidden answer (c) no clear meaning (d) one right answer
25. 25.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
26. 26.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
28. 28.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
29. 29.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the timekeeper (c) the topic statement (d) the winner’s prize
30. 30.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
36. 36.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
40. 40.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False

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