Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 271 · 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) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
4. 4.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) no clear meaning (c) a hidden answer (d) one right answer
5. 5.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
6. 6.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
7. 7.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
11. 11.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
12. 12.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the topic statement (c) the timekeeper (d) the last speech
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
17. 17.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
18. 18.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the audience
19. 19.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
26. 26.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the proposition
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
35. 35.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
37. 37.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
38. 38.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
39. 39.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False

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