Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 452 · 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) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
4. 4.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
6. 6.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
7. 7.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
8. 8.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
9. 9.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
10. 10.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
11. 11.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
14. 14.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the judges
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
17. 17.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “This House…”
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
20. 20.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
21. 21.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
22. 22.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
24. 24.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
26. 26.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
27. 27.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
28. 28.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the last speech (c) the winner’s prize (d) the topic statement
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
37. 37.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False

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