Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 438 · 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) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
2. 2.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) two sides to argue (c) a hidden answer (d) one right answer
3. 3.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
4. 4.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
5. 5.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the last speech (c) the winner’s prize (d) the topic statement
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
7. 7.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
9. 9.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
10. 10.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
16. 16.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
18. 18.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
22. 22.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
25. 25.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
26. 26.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Dear diary…”
27. 27.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition

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