Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 613 · 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 the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
2. 2.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) a hidden answer (c) two sides to argue (d) one right answer
3. 3.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
4. 4.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
7. 7.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the winner’s prize (c) the timekeeper (d) the last speech
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
10. 10.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
14. 14.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
16. 16.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
17. 17.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the opposition
19. 19.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
24. 24.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the audience
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
27. 27.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
28. 28.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
29. 29.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
32. 32.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
33. 33.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
35. 35.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
39. 39.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
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