Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 590 · 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 is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
4. 4.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) one right answer (c) no clear meaning (d) a hidden answer
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
8. 8.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
10. 10.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
11. 11.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
12. 12.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
15. 15.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
17. 17.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
18. 18.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the opposition
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
25. 25.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
26. 26.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the winner’s prize (c) the timekeeper (d) the topic statement
27. 27.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
28. 28.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
29. 29.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
32. 32.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
35. 35.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
37. 37.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the proposition
39. 39.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
40. 40.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion

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