Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 922 · 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.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
3. 3.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) no clear meaning (c) one right answer (d) a hidden answer
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
5. 5.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “This House…”
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
7. 7.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the judges
8. 8.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the judges
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
10. 10.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
15. 15.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
17. 17.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
18. 18.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
24. 24.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
28. 28.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the topic statement (c) the winner’s prize (d) the last speech
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
37. 37.🔍 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
38. 38.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True

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