Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 344 · 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.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) speaks first
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
5. 5.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
6. 6.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
7. 7.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) says “I beg to propose”
8. 8.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
10. 10.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
13. 13.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the winner’s prize (c) the timekeeper (d) the topic statement
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
15. 15.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
16. 16.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) no clear meaning (c) two sides to argue (d) one right answer
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
18. 18.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
19. 19.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) must prove the motion
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
22. 22.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
23. 23.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
25. 25.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Dear diary…”
26. 26.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) must prove the motion
28. 28.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the opposition
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
36. 36.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the proposition
37. 37.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
38. 38.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
40. 40.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion

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