Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 870 · 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) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
2. 2.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
4. 4.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
7. 7.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
8. 8.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the topic statement (c) the timekeeper (d) the winner’s prize
9. 9.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Dear diary…”
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
11. 11.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
13. 13.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
14. 14.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
17. 17.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
19. 19.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
22. 22.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
23. 23.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
26. 26.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
27. 27.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the proposition
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
30. 30.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
33. 33.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the proposition
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) must prove the motion
36. 36.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
37. 37.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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