Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 678 · 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 propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
2. 2.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must prove the motion
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
7. 7.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.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
9. 9.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
10. 10.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
13. 13.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
14. 14.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
15. 15.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Dear diary…”
16. 16.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
18. 18.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
21. 21.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the topic statement (c) the winner’s prize (d) the timekeeper
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
25. 25.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
30. 30.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
38. 38.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the audience
39. 39.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion

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