Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 371 · 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 ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
2. 2.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
3. 3.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
4. 4.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
7. 7.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
11. 11.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
12. 12.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
20. 20.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
21. 21.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
24. 24.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
25. 25.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the winner’s prize (c) the last speech (d) the timekeeper
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
30. 30.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
31. 31.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
32. 32.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
33. 33.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
34. 34.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) a hidden answer (c) one right answer (d) two sides to argue
35. 35.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
36. 36.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion

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