Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 531 · 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 against the motion (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the winner’s prize (c) the topic statement (d) the last speech
4. 4.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
5. 5.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Dear diary…”
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
7. 7.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
9. 9.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the audience
10. 10.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
13. 13.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
14. 14.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) one right answer (c) no clear meaning (d) two sides to argue
15. 15.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
17. 17.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
18. 18.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must prove the motion
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
22. 22.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
23. 23.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
26. 26.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the opposition
34. 34.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
35. 35.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
38. 38.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False

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