Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 826 · 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 of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
4. 4.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
7. 7.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
12. 12.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
13. 13.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
14. 14.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
17. 17.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Dear diary…”
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the winner’s prize (c) the topic statement (d) the timekeeper
21. 21.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
22. 22.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
29. 29.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
31. 31.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the judges
32. 32.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
36. 36.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
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.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False

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