Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 913 · 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 is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
4. 4.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
5. 5.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
6. 6.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
8. 8.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the winner’s prize (c) the topic statement (d) the last speech
9. 9.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
10. 10.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
12. 12.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
14. 14.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
16. 16.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
17. 17.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
18. 18.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
19. 19.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
24. 24.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
27. 27.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) two sides to argue (c) no clear meaning (d) one right answer
28. 28.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
29. 29.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
37. 37.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the proposition
38. 38.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the opposition
39. 39.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
40. 40.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition

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