Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 76 · 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.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
2. 2.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
3. 3.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
4. 4.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
6. 6.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) two sides to argue (c) no clear meaning (d) a hidden answer
7. 7.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
8. 8.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the winner’s prize (c) the last speech (d) the timekeeper
9. 9.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the judges
10. 10.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Breaking news…”
11. 11.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
14. 14.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
15. 15.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
19. 19.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the audience
20. 20.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
22. 22.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
23. 23.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
27. 27.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
28. 28.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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