Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 579 · 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) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
3. 3.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
4. 4.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
7. 7.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) one right answer (c) no clear meaning (d) two sides to argue
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
10. 10.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
14. 14.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the last speech (c) the winner’s prize (d) the timekeeper
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
17. 17.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
20. 20.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
21. 21.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
23. 23.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the proposition
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
28. 28.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the audience
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
30. 30.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
32. 32.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
40. 40.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion

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