Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 380 · 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.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the last speech (c) the topic statement (d) the timekeeper
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
4. 4.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the audience
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
9. 9.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not 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 give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
15. 15.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.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
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
20. 20.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) no clear meaning (c) a hidden answer (d) two sides to argue
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
22. 22.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
28. 28.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the audience
31. 31.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
37. 37.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
40. 40.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition

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