Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 649 · 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 side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
2. 2.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) one right answer (c) no clear meaning (d) two sides to argue
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
6. 6.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
7. 7.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
8. 8.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
9. 9.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
16. 16.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
17. 17.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
19. 19.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
21. 21.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
22. 22.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
24. 24.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
29. 29.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the timekeeper (c) the topic statement (d) the winner’s prize
30. 30.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Breaking news…”
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.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
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
38. 38.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the proposition
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True

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