Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

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

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