Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 534 · 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.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
3. 3.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the timekeeper (c) the topic statement (d) the last speech
4. 4.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
7. 7.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
8. 8.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
9. 9.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
10. 10.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
13. 13.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
14. 14.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
16. 16.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
17. 17.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
24. 24.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) one right answer (c) no clear meaning (d) two sides to argue
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
27. 27.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition
31. 31.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”

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