Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 542 · 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 is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the winner’s prize (c) the last speech (d) the timekeeper
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
10. 10.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
11. 11.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) a hidden answer (c) two sides to argue (d) one right answer
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
15. 15.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
17. 17.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
19. 19.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
27. 27.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
28. 28.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the judges
29. 29.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
33. 33.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
34. 34.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
36. 36.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
37. 37.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the opposition
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
39. 39.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True

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