Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 194 · 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 must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
2. 2.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
6. 6.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
8. 8.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
10. 10.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
13. 13.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the winner’s prize (c) the timekeeper (d) the topic statement
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
15. 15.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
18. 18.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
19. 19.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
20. 20.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition
22. 22.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
23. 23.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against 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.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the opposition
33. 33.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the opposition
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
39. 39.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “This House…”
40. 40.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition

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