Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 558 · 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 of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
2. 2.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
3. 3.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
5. 5.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
7. 7.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
12. 12.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
14. 14.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
16. 16.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
17. 17.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) no clear meaning (c) one right answer (d) a hidden answer
18. 18.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the judges
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the timekeeper (c) the winner’s prize (d) the topic statement
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
26. 26.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
31. 31.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
33. 33.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
37. 37.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
38. 38.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
39. 39.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the judges
40. 40.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion

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