Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 881 · 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 would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
4. 4.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the winner’s prize (c) the timekeeper (d) the topic statement
5. 5.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
7. 7.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the audience
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
10. 10.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Dear diary…”
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
12. 12.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
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) says “I beg to oppose”
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
23. 23.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
24. 24.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
27. 27.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
28. 28.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) must prove the motion
31. 31.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
32. 32.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the proposition
33. 33.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) two sides to argue (c) one right answer (d) no clear meaning
34. 34.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion

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