Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 799 · 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 side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
2. 2.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) a hidden answer (c) no clear meaning (d) one right answer
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
7. 7.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
11. 11.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
14. 14.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the last speech (c) the topic statement (d) the timekeeper
15. 15.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
18. 18.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
19. 19.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
22. 22.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition
26. 26.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
27. 27.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
30. 30.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “This House…”
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the proposition
36. 36.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
37. 37.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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