Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 405 · 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.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
2. 2.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
3. 3.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
7. 7.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) no clear meaning (c) two sides to argue (d) a hidden answer
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
10. 10.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
12. 12.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
14. 14.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
16. 16.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
17. 17.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the topic statement (c) the winner’s prize (d) the timekeeper
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
22. 22.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
23. 23.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
24. 24.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
25. 25.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
31. 31.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
34. 34.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
39. 39.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Dear diary…”
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True

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