Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 163 · 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) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
4. 4.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
5. 5.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
6. 6.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
7. 7.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
8. 8.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
9. 9.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the proposition
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
13. 13.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
15. 15.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
16. 16.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
18. 18.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
19. 19.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
20. 20.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
24. 24.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
25. 25.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
27. 27.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
28. 28.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
32. 32.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
35. 35.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False

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