Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 623 · 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.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
3. 3.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
5. 5.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
7. 7.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) no clear meaning (c) one right answer (d) two sides to argue
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
12. 12.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
14. 14.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
15. 15.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the audience
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
17. 17.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
20. 20.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
22. 22.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
24. 24.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the audience
25. 25.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
26. 26.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Breaking news…”
27. 27.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the winner’s prize (c) the timekeeper (d) the topic statement
28. 28.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
31. 31.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
33. 33.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
37. 37.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
38. 38.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
39. 39.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
40. 40.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”

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