Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 827 · 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 defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
3. 3.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
5. 5.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
6. 6.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the winner’s prize (c) the topic statement (d) the last speech
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
8. 8.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
12. 12.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
15. 15.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
19. 19.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
20. 20.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
24. 24.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) a hidden answer (c) one right answer (d) two sides to argue
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
32. 32.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
40. 40.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition

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