Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 387 · 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 a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
4. 4.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the opposition
5. 5.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
6. 6.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
7. 7.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
10. 10.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the topic statement (c) the timekeeper (d) the last speech
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
12. 12.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
14. 14.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
20. 20.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) a hidden answer (c) two sides to argue (d) one right answer
21. 21.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
23. 23.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
24. 24.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
27. 27.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
28. 28.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
31. 31.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
35. 35.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
40. 40.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion

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