Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 420 · 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 is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
4. 4.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
7. 7.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
9. 9.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
16. 16.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
19. 19.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) no clear meaning (c) one right answer (d) two sides to argue
20. 20.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
22. 22.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
24. 24.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Breaking news…”
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
27. 27.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
28. 28.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the winner’s prize (c) the last speech (d) the topic statement
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
30. 30.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
31. 31.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
32. 32.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
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 give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
40. 40.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition

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