Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 261 · 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 a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
3. 3.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
6. 6.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
9. 9.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
12. 12.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the judges
13. 13.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
14. 14.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
15. 15.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the winner’s prize (c) the last speech (d) the topic statement
16. 16.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
18. 18.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
20. 20.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
23. 23.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
24. 24.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
29. 29.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
33. 33.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
34. 34.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
38. 38.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
39. 39.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion

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