Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 863 · 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 proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
2. 2.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the last speech (c) the topic statement (d) the winner’s prize
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
4. 4.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
10. 10.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
11. 11.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
12. 12.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) two sides to argue (c) no clear meaning (d) one right answer
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
14. 14.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
17. 17.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
21. 21.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
24. 24.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
25. 25.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
26. 26.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
27. 27.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
28. 28.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove 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.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the proposition
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
35. 35.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
38. 38.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
39. 39.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True

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