Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 168 · 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 is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
5. 5.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
6. 6.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Breaking news…”
7. 7.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the timekeeper (c) the winner’s prize (d) the topic statement
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
9. 9.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) one right answer (c) two sides to argue (d) no clear meaning
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
14. 14.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
15. 15.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
22. 22.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
23. 23.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
27. 27.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must prove the motion
28. 28.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
38. 38.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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