Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 592 · 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 is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
2. 2.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
3. 3.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the last speech (c) the topic statement (d) the timekeeper
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
5. 5.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
7. 7.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
8. 8.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
9. 9.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
11. 11.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
12. 12.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) one right answer (c) no clear meaning (d) two sides to argue
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
14. 14.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
17. 17.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
24. 24.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
25. 25.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the opposition
28. 28.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
30. 30.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
33. 33.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
35. 35.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
39. 39.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
40. 40.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition

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