Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 596 · 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) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
2. 2.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the timekeeper (c) the topic statement (d) the last speech
3. 3.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
5. 5.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
7. 7.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) a hidden answer (c) two sides to argue (d) one right answer
8. 8.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
10. 10.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
11. 11.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
12. 12.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
13. 13.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
16. 16.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
17. 17.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the audience
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
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.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
25. 25.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
29. 29.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
31. 31.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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