Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 349 · 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 defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
3. 3.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
4. 4.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
5. 5.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
7. 7.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
11. 11.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
13. 13.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
16. 16.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
17. 17.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
19. 19.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the audience
20. 20.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
24. 24.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
25. 25.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the last speech (c) the timekeeper (d) the topic statement
26. 26.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) must prove the motion
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
29. 29.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
31. 31.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
32. 32.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
33. 33.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
37. 37.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
40. 40.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”

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