Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 203 · 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 speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
2. 2.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
3. 3.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
5. 5.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the proposition
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
7. 7.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
9. 9.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) two sides to argue (c) a hidden answer (d) one right answer
10. 10.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
11. 11.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
16. 16.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the topic statement (c) the last speech (d) the timekeeper
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
18. 18.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the judges
19. 19.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
20. 20.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
22. 22.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
25. 25.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
27. 27.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must prove the motion
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
33. 33.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
34. 34.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “This House…”
35. 35.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
37. 37.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True

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