Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 688 · 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 says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
2. 2.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
3. 3.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the audience
4. 4.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
6. 6.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
7. 7.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the last speech (c) the timekeeper (d) the topic statement
8. 8.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the opposition
10. 10.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) a hidden answer (c) two sides to argue (d) no clear meaning
11. 11.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
15. 15.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
16. 16.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
17. 17.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
18. 18.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
19. 19.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
22. 22.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
24. 24.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
27. 27.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
29. 29.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
30. 30.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
36. 36.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True

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