Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

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

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