Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 550 · 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.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the last speech (c) the topic statement (d) the winner’s prize
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
5. 5.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) must prove the motion
10. 10.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
12. 12.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) no clear meaning (c) two sides to argue (d) one right answer
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
14. 14.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
15. 15.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
25. 25.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
27. 27.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
33. 33.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
34. 34.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
35. 35.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False

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