Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 490 · 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 for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the proposition
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
6. 6.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
7. 7.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) one right answer (c) a hidden answer (d) two sides to argue
8. 8.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the judges
9. 9.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
10. 10.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
16. 16.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the topic statement (c) the timekeeper (d) the last speech
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
20. 20.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
24. 24.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Dear diary…”
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
30. 30.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
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 of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
34. 34.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
39. 39.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition

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