Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 776 · 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) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
5. 5.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
9. 9.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the opposition
10. 10.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
12. 12.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) a hidden answer (c) no clear meaning (d) two sides to argue
13. 13.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
14. 14.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
16. 16.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
17. 17.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
18. 18.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
19. 19.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
20. 20.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
21. 21.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
22. 22.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
25. 25.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
26. 26.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
31. 31.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the proposition
32. 32.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
35. 35.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Dear diary…”
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” 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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