Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 364 · 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 opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
2. 2.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
3. 3.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
5. 5.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) no clear meaning (c) a hidden answer (d) one right answer
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
7. 7.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the audience
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
14. 14.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
16. 16.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the winner’s prize (c) the last speech (d) the timekeeper
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
20. 20.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
21. 21.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Breaking news…”
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
23. 23.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
24. 24.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
26. 26.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.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
28. 28.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
33. 33.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition
34. 34.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
36. 36.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
40. 40.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition

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