Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 269 · 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 board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
4. 4.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
6. 6.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “This House…”
7. 7.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
8. 8.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) one right answer (c) no clear meaning (d) two sides to argue
9. 9.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must prove the motion
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
13. 13.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
17. 17.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the timekeeper (c) the last speech (d) the topic statement
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
20. 20.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
21. 21.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
22. 22.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
25. 25.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
29. 29.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
33. 33.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the proposition
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”

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