Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 968 · 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 a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
4. 4.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the winner’s prize (c) the topic statement (d) the timekeeper
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
6. 6.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
7. 7.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
9. 9.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
10. 10.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
12. 12.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
13. 13.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
14. 14.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
17. 17.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
18. 18.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the audience
23. 23.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
24. 24.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
33. 33.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
40. 40.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”

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