Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 538 · 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 must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
2. 2.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
3. 3.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
5. 5.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
7. 7.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the winner’s prize (c) the timekeeper (d) the last speech
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
14. 14.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
16. 16.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
17. 17.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) one right answer (c) a hidden answer (d) no clear meaning
18. 18.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the judges
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
20. 20.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
24. 24.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
25. 25.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
27. 27.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
33. 33.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
35. 35.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the audience
36. 36.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False

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