Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 846 · 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 proposition (b) the opposition
2. 2.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
3. 3.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “This House…”
4. 4.🔍 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
5. 5.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the proposition
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
7. 7.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) must prove the motion
8. 8.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
11. 11.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must prove the motion
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
16. 16.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
18. 18.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
19. 19.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
24. 24.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
28. 28.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) a hidden answer (c) two sides to argue (d) no clear meaning
29. 29.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
32. 32.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
37. 37.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition

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