Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 156 · 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) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
2. 2.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
5. 5.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the last speech (c) the winner’s prize (d) the topic statement
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
7. 7.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
12. 12.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
15. 15.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
16. 16.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
22. 22.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
23. 23.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
24. 24.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
25. 25.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
26. 26.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
28. 28.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
29. 29.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the judges
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
33. 33.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
34. 34.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
35. 35.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
36. 36.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
38. 38.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
39. 39.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
40. 40.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) one right answer (c) a hidden answer (d) two sides to argue

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