Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 555 · 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) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
3. 3.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) a hidden answer (c) one right answer (d) two sides to argue
4. 4.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
5. 5.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
12. 12.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the audience
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
14. 14.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
15. 15.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must prove the motion
17. 17.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the judges
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
20. 20.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
21. 21.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
22. 22.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
23. 23.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
25. 25.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
26. 26.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
27. 27.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
28. 28.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
33. 33.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) must prove the motion
39. 39.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the last speech (c) the topic statement (d) the timekeeper
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition

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