Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 662 · 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 give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
3. 3.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
4. 4.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
6. 6.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
7. 7.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
10. 10.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
12. 12.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
14. 14.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
16. 16.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
18. 18.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
21. 21.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
22. 22.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
23. 23.🔍 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
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
27. 27.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
30. 30.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) must prove the motion
31. 31.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
33. 33.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
39. 39.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the last speech (c) the topic statement (d) the winner’s prize
40. 40.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition

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