Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 47 · 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.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the opposition
2. 2.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) answers the proposition
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
5. 5.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
6. 6.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
7. 7.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
9. 9.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
10. 10.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
14. 14.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
15. 15.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
16. 16.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
17. 17.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
20. 20.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
22. 22.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
23. 23.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “This House…”
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
29. 29.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
30. 30.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
32. 32.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the last speech (c) the winner’s prize (d) the timekeeper
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 would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition

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