Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 385 · 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 says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
2. 2.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
4. 4.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
7. 7.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
8. 8.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
9. 9.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
10. 10.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
11. 11.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the judges
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
14. 14.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
17. 17.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the proposition
18. 18.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
21. 21.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) a hidden answer (c) no clear meaning (d) two sides to argue
22. 22.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
23. 23.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
26. 26.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
27. 27.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
31. 31.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
34. 34.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the topic statement (c) the winner’s prize (d) the timekeeper
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True

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