Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 262 · 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 ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
2. 2.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) must prove the motion
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
5. 5.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
6. 6.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
7. 7.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
8. 8.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the last speech (c) the winner’s prize (d) the timekeeper
9. 9.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
12. 12.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
14. 14.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) no clear meaning (c) a hidden answer (d) one right answer
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
17. 17.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
18. 18.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
20. 20.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
21. 21.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
22. 22.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
24. 24.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
26. 26.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
30. 30.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
32. 32.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
33. 33.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
38. 38.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False

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