Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 739 · 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.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
7. 7.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the judges
8. 8.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
9. 9.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
10. 10.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
13. 13.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
14. 14.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) a hidden answer (c) one right answer (d) no clear meaning
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
17. 17.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
18. 18.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
19. 19.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
20. 20.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
22. 22.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
24. 24.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) is against the motion
25. 25.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
26. 26.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the winner’s prize (c) the timekeeper (d) the topic statement
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
37. 37.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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