Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 553 · 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.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
2. 2.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
3. 3.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
6. 6.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) a hidden answer (c) two sides to argue (d) no clear meaning
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
12. 12.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
14. 14.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
15. 15.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
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 defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
19. 19.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
21. 21.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the judges
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
25. 25.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
27. 27.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
28. 28.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
30. 30.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
31. 31.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
36. 36.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
40. 40.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition

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