Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 280 · 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.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
4. 4.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
5. 5.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
8. 8.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
9. 9.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
10. 10.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) no clear meaning (c) two sides to argue (d) a hidden answer
11. 11.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
13. 13.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
14. 14.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
19. 19.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
23. 23.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
24. 24.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the winner’s prize (c) the topic statement (d) the last speech
25. 25.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
29. 29.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the audience
35. 35.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
39. 39.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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