Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 41 · 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) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
2. 2.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) one right answer (c) no clear meaning (d) a hidden answer
3. 3.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
6. 6.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the opposition
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
8. 8.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
9. 9.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
13. 13.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
15. 15.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
17. 17.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
19. 19.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the winner’s prize (c) the timekeeper (d) the topic statement
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
25. 25.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the judges
26. 26.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
27. 27.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
28. 28.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
38. 38.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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