Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 358 · 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.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the timekeeper (c) the last speech (d) the topic statement
2. 2.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
7. 7.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
9. 9.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) two sides to argue (c) a hidden answer (d) no clear meaning
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
15. 15.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the proposition
16. 16.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
19. 19.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
20. 20.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
21. 21.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
23. 23.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
26. 26.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
40. 40.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition

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