Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 566 · 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.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
7. 7.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
12. 12.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
16. 16.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
18. 18.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must prove the motion
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) two sides to argue (c) a hidden answer (d) no clear meaning
22. 22.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the last speech (c) the winner’s prize (d) the timekeeper
23. 23.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
24. 24.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
27. 27.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
28. 28.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
30. 30.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
33. 33.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
34. 34.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
38. 38.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True

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