Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 556 · 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 proposition? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
3. 3.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
4. 4.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
5. 5.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
6. 6.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
7. 7.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
10. 10.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
11. 11.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
13. 13.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the topic statement (c) the last speech (d) the timekeeper
14. 14.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
15. 15.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
22. 22.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
24. 24.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) no clear meaning (c) two sides to argue (d) one right answer
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
27. 27.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
29. 29.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Breaking news…”
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
35. 35.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
36. 36.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
40. 40.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True

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