Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 57 · 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.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
2. 2.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
3. 3.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
4. 4.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
5. 5.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
8. 8.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
14. 14.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) a hidden answer (c) no clear meaning (d) two sides to argue
15. 15.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
19. 19.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
22. 22.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
24. 24.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
27. 27.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
28. 28.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
29. 29.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the topic statement (c) the winner’s prize (d) the last speech
30. 30.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
33. 33.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
34. 34.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
37. 37.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
40. 40.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the opposition

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