Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 82 · 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 is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
4. 4.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
5. 5.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the timekeeper (c) the winner’s prize (d) the topic statement
6. 6.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
9. 9.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
10. 10.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
11. 11.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
14. 14.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the audience
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
16. 16.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
17. 17.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the audience
18. 18.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
20. 20.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must prove the motion
27. 27.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
28. 28.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
30. 30.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
36. 36.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
37. 37.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition
39. 39.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) one right answer (c) two sides to argue (d) no clear meaning
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False

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