Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 591 · 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) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
2. 2.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
4. 4.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
9. 9.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the proposition
10. 10.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
14. 14.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
17. 17.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
19. 19.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
20. 20.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
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
24. 24.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the last speech (c) the timekeeper (d) the winner’s prize
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
35. 35.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
37. 37.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
38. 38.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
39. 39.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
40. 40.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True

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