Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 402 · 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 for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the judges
2. 2.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
6. 6.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
12. 12.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the topic statement (c) the timekeeper (d) the last speech
13. 13.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
14. 14.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
16. 16.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
19. 19.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
20. 20.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
22. 22.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the judges
23. 23.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
24. 24.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Breaking news…”
27. 27.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
28. 28.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
29. 29.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) two sides to argue (c) one right answer (d) a hidden answer
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.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”

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