Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 164 · 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) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
2. 2.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Dear diary…”
3. 3.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
5. 5.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the audience
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
9. 9.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
13. 13.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
18. 18.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
20. 20.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
21. 21.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
23. 23.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the winner’s prize (c) the last speech (d) the timekeeper
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
25. 25.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
26. 26.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
29. 29.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the opposition
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) one right answer (c) two sides to argue (d) no clear meaning
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition

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