Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 735 · 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 of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
3. 3.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
4. 4.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) a hidden answer (c) no clear meaning (d) two sides to argue
5. 5.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
8. 8.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
9. 9.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Breaking news…”
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
14. 14.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
15. 15.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the topic statement (c) the winner’s prize (d) the last speech
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
17. 17.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
18. 18.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
22. 22.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
25. 25.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
26. 26.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
27. 27.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
28. 28.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
33. 33.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
35. 35.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition

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