Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 174 · 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 words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
2. 2.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
4. 4.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
7. 7.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition
9. 9.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) one right answer (c) two sides to argue (d) a hidden answer
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
13. 13.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
15. 15.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
17. 17.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the topic statement (c) the last speech (d) the winner’s prize
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) must prove the motion
25. 25.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the opposition
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
27. 27.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
29. 29.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
31. 31.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
32. 32.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
33. 33.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
35. 35.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the proposition
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
37. 37.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True

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