Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 340 · 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 every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
4. 4.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
6. 6.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
8. 8.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
9. 9.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
10. 10.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
11. 11.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the audience
12. 12.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
13. 13.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
14. 14.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
15. 15.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
16. 16.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
17. 17.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
18. 18.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
22. 22.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
24. 24.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
32. 32.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
33. 33.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
34. 34.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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