Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 270 · 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 would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
3. 3.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
6. 6.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
8. 8.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
9. 9.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) no clear meaning (c) a hidden answer (d) two sides to argue
10. 10.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
14. 14.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
16. 16.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
17. 17.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition
19. 19.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
20. 20.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
22. 22.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
23. 23.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the opposition
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the topic statement (c) the timekeeper (d) the winner’s prize
26. 26.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
29. 29.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the proposition
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
36. 36.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
37. 37.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
38. 38.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion

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