Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 45 · 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 proposition (b) the opposition
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
3. 3.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
4. 4.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
7. 7.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the audience
9. 9.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) a hidden answer (c) one right answer (d) two sides to argue
10. 10.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
15. 15.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
18. 18.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
19. 19.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
20. 20.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
21. 21.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
22. 22.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
24. 24.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
29. 29.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
31. 31.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
33. 33.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the winner’s prize (c) the timekeeper (d) the topic statement
34. 34.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
37. 37.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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