Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 346 · 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 words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
2. 2.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
5. 5.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the last speech (c) the timekeeper (d) the winner’s prize
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
7. 7.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
8. 8.🔍 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
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
10. 10.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
13. 13.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
15. 15.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
16. 16.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
17. 17.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
19. 19.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
27. 27.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) is for the motion
28. 28.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) a hidden answer (c) no clear meaning (d) one right answer
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
31. 31.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
36. 36.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
37. 37.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False

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