Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 274 · 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 believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
2. 2.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
3. 3.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
5. 5.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
7. 7.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
10. 10.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
11. 11.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
12. 12.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
14. 14.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the proposition
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
17. 17.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
19. 19.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) two sides to argue (c) one right answer (d) a hidden answer
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
25. 25.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
29. 29.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the topic statement (c) the timekeeper (d) the last speech
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
31. 31.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
32. 32.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
38. 38.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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