Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 341 · 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 ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
2. 2.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) two sides to argue (c) no clear meaning (d) a hidden answer
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
6. 6.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
7. 7.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
9. 9.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
11. 11.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Dear diary…”
12. 12.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the winner’s prize (c) the topic statement (d) the last speech
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
14. 14.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
17. 17.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
18. 18.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
21. 21.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must prove the motion
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
26. 26.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
27. 27.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
38. 38.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
39. 39.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
40. 40.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True

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