Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 639 · 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 replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
9. 9.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
11. 11.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
12. 12.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the proposition
13. 13.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
14. 14.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
20. 20.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the last speech (c) the timekeeper (d) the topic statement
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
22. 22.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
23. 23.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
26. 26.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
36. 36.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) a hidden answer (c) two sides to argue (d) one right answer
37. 37.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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