Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 201 · 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 side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
5. 5.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
8. 8.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
10. 10.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
16. 16.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
21. 21.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
22. 22.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the last speech (c) the topic statement (d) the timekeeper
23. 23.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
25. 25.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
27. 27.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
28. 28.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
29. 29.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
32. 32.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
33. 33.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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