Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 103 · 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.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the proposition
4. 4.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
8. 8.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
10. 10.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
11. 11.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
13. 13.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
14. 14.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the timekeeper (c) the topic statement (d) the last speech
15. 15.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
16. 16.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
17. 17.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
29. 29.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
30. 30.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
35. 35.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True

Free debate lessons, practice and worksheets at talentjr.in/debate-for-students