Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 216 · 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 says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
4. 4.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
5. 5.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
7. 7.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
10. 10.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the topic statement (c) the timekeeper (d) the winner’s prize
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
15. 15.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
23. 23.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) one right answer (c) two sides to argue (d) a hidden answer
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
29. 29.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
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.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
33. 33.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the opposition
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
38. 38.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
39. 39.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition

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