Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 667 · 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.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the timekeeper (c) the topic statement (d) the winner’s prize
2. 2.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
7. 7.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
8. 8.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
12. 12.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
13. 13.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
16. 16.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
18. 18.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
19. 19.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
22. 22.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
23. 23.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
24. 24.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the opposition
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
34. 34.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
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 make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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