Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 478 · 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 side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
2. 2.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
3. 3.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
5. 5.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) two sides to argue (c) a hidden answer (d) one right answer
6. 6.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the proposition
7. 7.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
14. 14.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
16. 16.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
19. 19.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
20. 20.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
22. 22.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
25. 25.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
28. 28.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
31. 31.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
32. 32.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the proposition
33. 33.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
37. 37.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
38. 38.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
40. 40.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”

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