Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 575 · 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.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) one right answer (c) no clear meaning (d) two sides to argue
2. 2.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
7. 7.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
9. 9.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
11. 11.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
12. 12.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
16. 16.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
17. 17.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the topic statement (c) the last speech (d) the winner’s prize
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
21. 21.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
25. 25.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
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.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must prove the motion
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
30. 30.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
33. 33.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
35. 35.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
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 proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion

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