Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 717 · 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.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
2. 2.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
3. 3.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
6. 6.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
7. 7.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
13. 13.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
16. 16.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
17. 17.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
18. 18.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
19. 19.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “This House…”
20. 20.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
22. 22.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
23. 23.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
27. 27.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
28. 28.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
35. 35.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the last speech (c) the winner’s prize (d) the timekeeper
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
38. 38.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
39. 39.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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