Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 252 · 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.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the audience
2. 2.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) one right answer (c) a hidden answer (d) no clear meaning
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the judges
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the timekeeper (c) the topic statement (d) the winner’s prize
14. 14.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
15. 15.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
26. 26.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
27. 27.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
35. 35.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
36. 36.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
37. 37.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Breaking news…”
38. 38.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
40. 40.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition

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