Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 98 · 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 oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition
3. 3.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
4. 4.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
5. 5.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
6. 6.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the proposition
7. 7.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
14. 14.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Breaking news…”
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
16. 16.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
17. 17.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the winner’s prize (c) the topic statement (d) the timekeeper
19. 19.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
24. 24.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
25. 25.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
26. 26.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
38. 38.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition

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