Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 398 · 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 opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
4. 4.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
5. 5.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
7. 7.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
11. 11.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
13. 13.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the last speech (c) the winner’s prize (d) the timekeeper
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
15. 15.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
24. 24.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) two sides to argue (c) a hidden answer (d) no clear meaning
25. 25.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
26. 26.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
28. 28.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
29. 29.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
31. 31.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the opposition
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
34. 34.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
36. 36.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the opposition
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
39. 39.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
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