Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 888 · 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.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
5. 5.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
7. 7.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
8. 8.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) a hidden answer (c) two sides to argue (d) one right answer
9. 9.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the audience
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
16. 16.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Breaking news…”
17. 17.🔍 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
18. 18.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
19. 19.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
20. 20.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
21. 21.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
22. 22.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
24. 24.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
27. 27.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
29. 29.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
30. 30.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the last speech (c) the winner’s prize (d) the topic statement
31. 31.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
32. 32.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
33. 33.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
35. 35.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
38. 38.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
39. 39.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”

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