Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 221 · 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 believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
2. 2.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
4. 4.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
5. 5.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
6. 6.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
7. 7.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
8. 8.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
10. 10.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
13. 13.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
17. 17.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
19. 19.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the timekeeper (c) the last speech (d) the topic statement
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
22. 22.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
23. 23.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Dear diary…”
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
28. 28.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) a hidden answer (c) no clear meaning (d) two sides to argue
29. 29.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) may test the definition
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
34. 34.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
35. 35.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
36. 36.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”

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