Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 497 · 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 believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
3. 3.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
5. 5.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
6. 6.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) no clear meaning (c) a hidden answer (d) one right answer
7. 7.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
8. 8.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
10. 10.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
12. 12.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
17. 17.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
20. 20.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
29. 29.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
31. 31.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
32. 32.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the judges
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
36. 36.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
37. 37.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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