Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 535 · 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 of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
3. 3.🔍 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
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
9. 9.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the topic statement (c) the last speech (d) the timekeeper
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
11. 11.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) one right answer (c) two sides to argue (d) no clear meaning
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
14. 14.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
15. 15.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
17. 17.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Breaking news…”
24. 24.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
25. 25.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
26. 26.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
27. 27.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
29. 29.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
33. 33.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
36. 36.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
38. 38.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”

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