Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 748 · 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) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
2. 2.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
3. 3.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
4. 4.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
5. 5.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
6. 6.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
7. 7.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
8. 8.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
10. 10.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
11. 11.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
17. 17.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
18. 18.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) a hidden answer (c) no clear meaning (d) two sides to argue
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
20. 20.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
22. 22.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “This House…”
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
24. 24.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
28. 28.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
29. 29.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the timekeeper (c) the topic statement (d) the winner’s prize
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
33. 33.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
34. 34.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion

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