Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 680 · 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 oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
2. 2.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the opposition
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
4. 4.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
5. 5.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
6. 6.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) no clear meaning (c) two sides to argue (d) one right answer
7. 7.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the opposition
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
9. 9.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
10. 10.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
11. 11.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
12. 12.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
20. 20.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
21. 21.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
23. 23.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
24. 24.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
26. 26.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
29. 29.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the timekeeper (c) the winner’s prize (d) the last speech
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
31. 31.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
33. 33.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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