Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 790 · 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 week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
5. 5.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
6. 6.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the last speech (c) the winner’s prize (d) the topic statement
7. 7.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
8. 8.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
9. 9.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
14. 14.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
15. 15.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
16. 16.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
18. 18.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
21. 21.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
22. 22.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
23. 23.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
24. 24.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
30. 30.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the opposition
32. 32.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
34. 34.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
35. 35.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “This House…”
36. 36.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
37. 37.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
39. 39.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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