Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 589 · 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) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
2. 2.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the last speech (c) the topic statement (d) the winner’s prize
3. 3.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
4. 4.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
6. 6.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
8. 8.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the proposition
9. 9.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
10. 10.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
12. 12.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
13. 13.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
14. 14.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
17. 17.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
20. 20.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
22. 22.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
23. 23.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
28. 28.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
32. 32.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
33. 33.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
34. 34.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the opposition
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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