Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

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

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