Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 539 · 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 proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
2. 2.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) no clear meaning (c) a hidden answer (d) two sides to argue
3. 3.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
4. 4.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the timekeeper (c) the last speech (d) the winner’s prize
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
9. 9.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
10. 10.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
13. 13.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the audience
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
18. 18.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
19. 19.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
21. 21.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
23. 23.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
24. 24.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Dear diary…”
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
37. 37.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
38. 38.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
39. 39.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words

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