Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 480 · 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 would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
5. 5.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
6. 6.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) one right answer (c) two sides to argue (d) a hidden answer
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
11. 11.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the audience
15. 15.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
17. 17.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
18. 18.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
19. 19.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must prove the motion
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
22. 22.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Breaking news…”
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
24. 24.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
25. 25.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
26. 26.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
27. 27.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
28. 28.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
30. 30.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
31. 31.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
32. 32.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the topic statement (c) the timekeeper (d) the winner’s prize
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 triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
35. 35.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.🔍 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

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