Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 313 · 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 of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the last speech (c) the timekeeper (d) the winner’s prize
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
7. 7.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
10. 10.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
12. 12.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
14. 14.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
17. 17.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) no clear meaning (c) two sides to argue (d) a hidden answer
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
19. 19.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
20. 20.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
21. 21.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
24. 24.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
26. 26.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the judges
28. 28.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
30. 30.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
33. 33.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion

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