Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 604 · 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) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
2. 2.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the topic statement (c) the last speech (d) the winner’s prize
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
4. 4.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
8. 8.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the audience
12. 12.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
14. 14.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
18. 18.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
19. 19.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
22. 22.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
23. 23.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) must prove the motion
24. 24.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
26. 26.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
27. 27.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
28. 28.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
32. 32.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) no clear meaning (c) two sides to argue (d) a hidden answer
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
38. 38.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “This House…”
39. 39.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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