Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 169 · 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.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) two sides to argue (c) a hidden answer (d) no clear meaning
2. 2.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
3. 3.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the topic statement (c) the last speech (d) the timekeeper
4. 4.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the judges
5. 5.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
6. 6.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Dear diary…”
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
12. 12.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
14. 14.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
15. 15.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
17. 17.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
18. 18.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
19. 19.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
20. 20.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
22. 22.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
23. 23.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
24. 24.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
25. 25.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
26. 26.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
28. 28.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
30. 30.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
31. 31.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
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 would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
38. 38.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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