Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 910 · 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) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
2. 2.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
3. 3.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
4. 4.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
9. 9.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
15. 15.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
18. 18.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
22. 22.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
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
25. 25.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
26. 26.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the judges
27. 27.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
28. 28.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the timekeeper (c) the last speech (d) the topic statement
34. 34.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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