Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 537 · 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 says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
4. 4.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
5. 5.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
8. 8.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the timekeeper (c) the topic statement (d) the winner’s prize
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
10. 10.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
11. 11.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
12. 12.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
14. 14.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
15. 15.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
19. 19.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
21. 21.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
30. 30.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
32. 32.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) one right answer (c) two sides to argue (d) a hidden answer
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
35. 35.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
40. 40.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition

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