Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 73 · 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.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the winner’s prize (c) the topic statement (d) the last speech
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
4. 4.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
5. 5.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
6. 6.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “This House…”
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
12. 12.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) no clear meaning (c) a hidden answer (d) one right answer
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
17. 17.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
22. 22.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
27. 27.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
29. 29.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
31. 31.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
32. 32.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition

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