Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 795 · 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 a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
3. 3.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
4. 4.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
5. 5.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
8. 8.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
11. 11.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
12. 12.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
16. 16.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
17. 17.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
18. 18.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
23. 23.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
24. 24.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
27. 27.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) no clear meaning (c) one right answer (d) two sides to argue
33. 33.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
36. 36.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the topic statement (c) the timekeeper (d) the last speech
37. 37.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the opposition
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
39. 39.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True

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