Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 892 · 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.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
2. 2.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Dear diary…”
3. 3.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
5. 5.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
6. 6.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must prove the motion
10. 10.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
11. 11.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the timekeeper (c) the last speech (d) the winner’s prize
12. 12.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
14. 14.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
17. 17.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
18. 18.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the opposition
19. 19.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
21. 21.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
24. 24.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
27. 27.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
28. 28.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
29. 29.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
35. 35.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
37. 37.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
38. 38.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the judges

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