Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 53 · 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 must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
4. 4.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
5. 5.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
7. 7.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
8. 8.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
9. 9.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
10. 10.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
11. 11.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the timekeeper (c) the last speech (d) the topic statement
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
13. 13.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
18. 18.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) a hidden answer (c) one right answer (d) two sides to argue
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
20. 20.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.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
23. 23.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
26. 26.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the proposition
27. 27.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
28. 28.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
29. 29.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
35. 35.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
40. 40.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion

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