Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 115 · 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 the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
2. 2.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
3. 3.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
4. 4.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
5. 5.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “This House…”
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
7. 7.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
10. 10.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
14. 14.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the opposition
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the winner’s prize (c) the last speech (d) the timekeeper
18. 18.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
19. 19.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
21. 21.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
23. 23.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
24. 24.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) no clear meaning (c) a hidden answer (d) two sides to argue
25. 25.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
26. 26.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
27. 27.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
29. 29.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
30. 30.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
33. 33.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
34. 34.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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