Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 840 · 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 is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
4. 4.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
5. 5.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
8. 8.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
15. 15.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the winner’s prize (c) the topic statement (d) the last speech
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 believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
19. 19.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.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) speaks first
22. 22.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
24. 24.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) no clear meaning (c) a hidden answer (d) two sides to argue
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
26. 26.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
28. 28.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
36. 36.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”

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