Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 903 · 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 side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
2. 2.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
3. 3.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
4. 4.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) two sides to argue (c) a hidden answer (d) one right answer
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
6. 6.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the timekeeper (c) the winner’s prize (d) the last speech
7. 7.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
10. 10.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
14. 14.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
16. 16.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the opposition
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
18. 18.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
19. 19.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
24. 24.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Breaking news…”
27. 27.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
28. 28.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the audience
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
31. 31.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
32. 32.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words

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