Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 897 · 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 give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
3. 3.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
5. 5.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
7. 7.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
10. 10.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
14. 14.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
18. 18.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) one right answer (c) a hidden answer (d) no clear meaning
19. 19.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
21. 21.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
23. 23.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
24. 24.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the topic statement (c) the last speech (d) the timekeeper
25. 25.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.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
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
28. 28.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
33. 33.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
35. 35.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
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.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True

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