Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 750 · 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 replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
2. 2.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
3. 3.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition
5. 5.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
6. 6.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
9. 9.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
10. 10.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the opposition
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
19. 19.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
20. 20.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
21. 21.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
24. 24.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
25. 25.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
26. 26.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
27. 27.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
29. 29.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
30. 30.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
32. 32.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
34. 34.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
35. 35.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Breaking news…”
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
39. 39.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) two sides to argue (c) a hidden answer (d) one right answer

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