Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 339 · 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 believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
3. 3.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
4. 4.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the timekeeper (c) the winner’s prize (d) the topic statement
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
10. 10.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
14. 14.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
17. 17.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
19. 19.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the judges
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
22. 22.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Dear diary…”
23. 23.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) must prove the motion
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.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
27. 27.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
29. 29.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
30. 30.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
31. 31.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
32. 32.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
33. 33.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
34. 34.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
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.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
40. 40.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) a hidden answer (c) two sides to argue (d) one right answer

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