Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 754 · 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 give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
5. 5.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) one right answer (c) a hidden answer (d) two sides to argue
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
8. 8.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
17. 17.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
18. 18.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
21. 21.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the winner’s prize (c) the topic statement (d) the last speech
22. 22.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
23. 23.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the audience
24. 24.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
26. 26.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
27. 27.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
29. 29.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
30. 30.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
32. 32.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
39. 39.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
40. 40.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition

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