Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 752 · 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 give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
2. 2.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
4. 4.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the last speech (c) the winner’s prize (d) the timekeeper
7. 7.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
8. 8.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
10. 10.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
11. 11.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
19. 19.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the audience
20. 20.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
24. 24.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) speaks first
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Dear diary…”
28. 28.🔍 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
29. 29.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
31. 31.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
32. 32.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
33. 33.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
34. 34.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) a hidden answer (c) one right answer (d) no clear meaning
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition

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