Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 777 · 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 of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
3. 3.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the timekeeper (c) the topic statement (d) the winner’s prize
4. 4.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
5. 5.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the judges
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
9. 9.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
10. 10.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
11. 11.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
12. 12.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
13. 13.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
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.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
16. 16.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
18. 18.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) one right answer (c) a hidden answer (d) no clear meaning
19. 19.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
24. 24.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
32. 32.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”

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