Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 746 · 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 is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
2. 2.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
3. 3.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
5. 5.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Dear diary…”
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
8. 8.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
9. 9.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
10. 10.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the last speech (c) the timekeeper (d) the topic statement
11. 11.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
14. 14.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
15. 15.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
20. 20.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) two sides to argue (c) one right answer (d) no clear meaning
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
26. 26.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
27. 27.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
28. 28.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
30. 30.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
31. 31.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
34. 34.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
35. 35.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
37. 37.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
39. 39.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False

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