Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 227 · 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 is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
4. 4.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
5. 5.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
6. 6.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
7. 7.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
8. 8.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the judges
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
11. 11.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
12. 12.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the winner’s prize (c) the last speech (d) the timekeeper
13. 13.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Breaking news…”
14. 14.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
16. 16.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
17. 17.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
18. 18.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
20. 20.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
21. 21.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) one right answer (c) two sides to argue (d) no clear meaning
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
24. 24.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
26. 26.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
31. 31.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
32. 32.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
38. 38.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) must prove the motion
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
40. 40.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition

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