Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 481 · 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.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
4. 4.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the judges
6. 6.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
10. 10.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
11. 11.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the timekeeper (c) the topic statement (d) the winner’s prize
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
17. 17.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
19. 19.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
21. 21.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
22. 22.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
24. 24.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
25. 25.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) no clear meaning (c) two sides to argue (d) a hidden answer
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
27. 27.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
33. 33.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
34. 34.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
35. 35.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
39. 39.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion

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