Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 789 · 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 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
2. 2.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
4. 4.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
6. 6.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
8. 8.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
13. 13.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
14. 14.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
17. 17.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
19. 19.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
20. 20.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
24. 24.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the last speech (c) the winner’s prize (d) the topic statement
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) no clear meaning (c) a hidden answer (d) one right answer
29. 29.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
30. 30.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
31. 31.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
34. 34.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words

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