Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 528 · 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.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the winner’s prize (c) the last speech (d) the topic statement
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
4. 4.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
7. 7.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
9. 9.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
12. 12.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
14. 14.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
16. 16.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
17. 17.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
18. 18.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) no clear meaning (c) two sides to argue (d) a hidden answer
19. 19.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
25. 25.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
28. 28.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
29. 29.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
36. 36.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
39. 39.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
40. 40.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words

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