Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 307 · 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 would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
4. 4.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the proposition
5. 5.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
7. 7.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
11. 11.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
12. 12.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
14. 14.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
16. 16.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
17. 17.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
19. 19.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the winner’s prize (c) the topic statement (d) the last speech
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
24. 24.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
27. 27.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
33. 33.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) two sides to argue (c) a hidden answer (d) one right answer
37. 37.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
38. 38.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
40. 40.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the proposition

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