Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 421 · 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.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
2. 2.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
4. 4.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
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.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
9. 9.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
10. 10.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) no clear meaning (c) two sides to argue (d) a hidden answer
11. 11.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
13. 13.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
15. 15.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
17. 17.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
18. 18.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the winner’s prize (c) the timekeeper (d) the topic statement
19. 19.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
25. 25.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
28. 28.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
29. 29.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
30. 30.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
32. 32.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
34. 34.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
36. 36.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “This House…”
37. 37.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must prove the motion
40. 40.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition

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