Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 149 · 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.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
3. 3.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the audience
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
5. 5.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
7. 7.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
8. 8.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the proposition
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
10. 10.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the winner’s prize (c) the topic statement (d) the timekeeper
11. 11.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) no clear meaning (c) two sides to argue (d) one right answer
12. 12.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
15. 15.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
22. 22.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
23. 23.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
31. 31.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must prove the motion
33. 33.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Breaking news…”
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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