Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 284 · 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 would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
2. 2.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
3. 3.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
4. 4.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Breaking news…”
5. 5.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
6. 6.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
16. 16.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
17. 17.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the audience
18. 18.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
19. 19.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
20. 20.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
21. 21.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
22. 22.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
23. 23.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the timekeeper (c) the winner’s prize (d) the topic statement
24. 24.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
26. 26.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.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
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
30. 30.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) one right answer (c) two sides to argue (d) no clear meaning
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
35. 35.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
36. 36.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
37. 37.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
38. 38.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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