Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 778 · 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 believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
3. 3.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
4. 4.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the winner’s prize (c) the topic statement (d) the last speech
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
7. 7.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the proposition
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) must prove the motion
9. 9.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
10. 10.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
12. 12.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
15. 15.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
20. 20.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
21. 21.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
25. 25.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
27. 27.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) two sides to argue (c) no clear meaning (d) a hidden answer
33. 33.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
34. 34.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
40. 40.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition

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