Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 995 · 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.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the timekeeper (c) the winner’s prize (d) the topic statement
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
4. 4.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
5. 5.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
7. 7.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
9. 9.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) a hidden answer (c) one right answer (d) no clear meaning
10. 10.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “This House…”
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
12. 12.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the opposition
13. 13.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.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
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
28. 28.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
29. 29.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the proposition
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition

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