Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 250 · 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) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
5. 5.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
7. 7.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the audience
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
11. 11.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
14. 14.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
16. 16.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the topic statement (c) the timekeeper (d) the winner’s prize
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
21. 21.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
27. 27.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
29. 29.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the proposition
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
40. 40.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition

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