Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

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

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