Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 761 · 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 believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) a hidden answer (c) no clear meaning (d) two sides to argue
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
5. 5.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
6. 6.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
7. 7.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the proposition
8. 8.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
10. 10.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
11. 11.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
14. 14.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
15. 15.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
16. 16.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
19. 19.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the opposition
20. 20.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
22. 22.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
23. 23.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
24. 24.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
27. 27.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
31. 31.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
32. 32.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
33. 33.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the winner’s prize (c) the timekeeper (d) the topic statement
34. 34.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must prove the motion
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
40. 40.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True

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