Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 656 · 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 of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
2. 2.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the winner’s prize (c) the last speech (d) the topic statement
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
7. 7.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
10. 10.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
14. 14.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
18. 18.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
19. 19.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
22. 22.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
30. 30.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the audience
35. 35.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True

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