Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 62 · 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 words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Breaking news…”
2. 2.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
3. 3.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
5. 5.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
6. 6.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
7. 7.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
10. 10.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
13. 13.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the winner’s prize (c) the timekeeper (d) the last speech
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
18. 18.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
19. 19.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
20. 20.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
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
25. 25.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
27. 27.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the opposition
28. 28.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the proposition
29. 29.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition
35. 35.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
36. 36.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
38. 38.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) 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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