Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 120 · 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 triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the timekeeper (c) the topic statement (d) the winner’s prize
3. 3.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
4. 4.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
5. 5.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Breaking news…”
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
8. 8.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) a hidden answer (c) two sides to argue (d) no clear meaning
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
12. 12.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
16. 16.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
20. 20.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
21. 21.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) must prove the motion
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
26. 26.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
27. 27.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
30. 30.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
32. 32.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
34. 34.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
38. 38.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
40. 40.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition

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