Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 429 · 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 is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
3. 3.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
5. 5.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
6. 6.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
9. 9.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
10. 10.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
11. 11.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
12. 12.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) one right answer (c) a hidden answer (d) no clear meaning
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
14. 14.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
17. 17.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the proposition
19. 19.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the topic statement (c) the last speech (d) the timekeeper
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
23. 23.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
24. 24.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
25. 25.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
29. 29.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
31. 31.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
35. 35.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
40. 40.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False

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