Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 648 · 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 believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
2. 2.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the last speech (c) the timekeeper (d) the topic statement
3. 3.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
7. 7.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
8. 8.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
10. 10.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
12. 12.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
15. 15.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (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) False (b) True
17. 17.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the opposition
18. 18.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
19. 19.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
20. 20.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
21. 21.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
22. 22.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
32. 32.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
36. 36.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
38. 38.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) one right answer (c) no clear meaning (d) a hidden answer
39. 39.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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