Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 96 · 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 summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
4. 4.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
5. 5.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the proposition
6. 6.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
7. 7.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Dear diary…”
8. 8.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
10. 10.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the timekeeper (c) the winner’s prize (d) the last speech
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
15. 15.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must prove the motion
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
17. 17.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
21. 21.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) a hidden answer (c) two sides to argue (d) no clear meaning
22. 22.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the judges
23. 23.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
26. 26.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
27. 27.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
30. 30.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
38. 38.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
39. 39.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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