Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 198 · 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.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
3. 3.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
4. 4.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the opposition
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
6. 6.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Dear diary…”
7. 7.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
10. 10.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
13. 13.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
14. 14.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
17. 17.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
19. 19.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the winner’s prize (c) the topic statement (d) the last speech
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
27. 27.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
28. 28.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
29. 29.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
31. 31.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
39. 39.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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