Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 333 · 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.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the audience
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
4. 4.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
9. 9.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
10. 10.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) one right answer (c) two sides to argue (d) no clear meaning
14. 14.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
15. 15.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
16. 16.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
19. 19.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
20. 20.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
25. 25.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
26. 26.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
28. 28.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the topic statement (c) the last speech (d) the timekeeper
35. 35.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
36. 36.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
37. 37.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition

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