Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 578 · 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.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
3. 3.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must prove the motion
4. 4.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
5. 5.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the proposition
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
8. 8.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
10. 10.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” 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.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
14. 14.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
16. 16.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
17. 17.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the winner’s prize (c) the topic statement (d) the timekeeper
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
27. 27.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
28. 28.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
34. 34.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
36. 36.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
39. 39.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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