Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 68 · 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 answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
2. 2.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
4. 4.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the proposition
5. 5.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
10. 10.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
11. 11.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
13. 13.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
14. 14.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the judges
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
16. 16.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
19. 19.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) no clear meaning (c) two sides to argue (d) one right answer
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
21. 21.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
25. 25.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
26. 26.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
27. 27.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
33. 33.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the topic statement (c) the winner’s prize (d) the timekeeper
40. 40.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words

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