Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 626 · 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 side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
2. 2.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the proposition
3. 3.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
4. 4.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
5. 5.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.🔍 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
7. 7.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
10. 10.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “This House…”
11. 11.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) one right answer (c) a hidden answer (d) no clear meaning
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
15. 15.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
19. 19.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
22. 22.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
23. 23.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the winner’s prize (c) the topic statement (d) the timekeeper
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
30. 30.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
31. 31.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
35. 35.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
39. 39.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False

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