Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 65 · 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.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) no clear meaning (c) two sides to argue (d) one right answer
2. 2.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the timekeeper (c) the winner’s prize (d) the last speech
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
4. 4.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
12. 12.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
14. 14.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the audience
20. 20.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
21. 21.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
26. 26.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
27. 27.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
31. 31.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
38. 38.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
40. 40.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”

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