Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 562 · 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 is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
2. 2.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
3. 3.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
9. 9.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
14. 14.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
16. 16.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
17. 17.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
18. 18.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
19. 19.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the topic statement (c) the winner’s prize (d) the last speech
20. 20.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) a hidden answer (c) two sides to argue (d) one right answer
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
27. 27.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
28. 28.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
31. 31.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
32. 32.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
38. 38.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
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 side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition

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