Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 764 · 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) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
2. 2.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the topic statement (c) the last speech (d) the winner’s prize
3. 3.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the opposition
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
5. 5.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
8. 8.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
12. 12.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
13. 13.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) one right answer (c) two sides to argue (d) no clear meaning
14. 14.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
18. 18.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
19. 19.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
23. 23.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
24. 24.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
27. 27.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
30. 30.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must prove the motion
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
35. 35.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
40. 40.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition

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