Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 93 · 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) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
2. 2.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
3. 3.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
4. 4.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
7. 7.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
8. 8.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Dear diary…”
9. 9.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
10. 10.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) no clear meaning (c) two sides to argue (d) a hidden answer
11. 11.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
20. 20.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
21. 21.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
22. 22.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
26. 26.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
28. 28.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
30. 30.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
31. 31.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
32. 32.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
35. 35.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the topic statement (c) the timekeeper (d) the last speech
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
40. 40.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition

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