Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 500 · 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 side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
2. 2.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
4. 4.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
7. 7.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
11. 11.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
12. 12.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
14. 14.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the last speech (c) the topic statement (d) the winner’s prize
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
16. 16.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
17. 17.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
18. 18.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the opposition
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
22. 22.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (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.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the proposition
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
28. 28.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
29. 29.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) a hidden answer (c) two sides to argue (d) no clear meaning
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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