Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 334 · 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 side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
2. 2.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
14. 14.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
17. 17.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the opposition
18. 18.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
22. 22.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must prove the motion
23. 23.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
25. 25.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
26. 26.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
27. 27.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) one right answer (c) a hidden answer (d) no clear meaning
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
30. 30.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
35. 35.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
37. 37.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition

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