Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 298 · 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.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
2. 2.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
3. 3.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
4. 4.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
5. 5.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
6. 6.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
7. 7.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
8. 8.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
9. 9.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
11. 11.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the opposition
12. 12.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
13. 13.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) no clear meaning (c) a hidden answer (d) two sides to argue
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
15. 15.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
20. 20.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
26. 26.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the winner’s prize (c) the topic statement (d) the last speech
28. 28.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the audience
29. 29.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
32. 32.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
37. 37.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion

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