Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 600 · 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) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the audience
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
5. 5.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
6. 6.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
7. 7.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
8. 8.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
10. 10.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the topic statement (c) the last speech (d) the winner’s prize
11. 11.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
13. 13.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
17. 17.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
19. 19.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) no clear meaning (c) a hidden answer (d) two sides to argue
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
21. 21.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
22. 22.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
23. 23.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
25. 25.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
28. 28.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
33. 33.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
34. 34.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
37. 37.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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