Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 665 · 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 words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Dear diary…”
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
4. 4.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
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
7. 7.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
11. 11.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
17. 17.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must prove the motion
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) one right answer (c) a hidden answer (d) two sides to argue
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must prove the motion
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
29. 29.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
31. 31.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
32. 32.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
33. 33.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
38. 38.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
40. 40.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the topic statement (c) the winner’s prize (d) the timekeeper

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