Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 624 · 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.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
4. 4.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the last speech (c) the winner’s prize (d) the topic statement
5. 5.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
7. 7.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
8. 8.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the proposition
9. 9.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
12. 12.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
14. 14.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) a hidden answer (c) one right answer (d) two sides to argue
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (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.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
25. 25.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
27. 27.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
33. 33.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
38. 38.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition

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