Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 930 · 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.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the audience
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
3. 3.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
5. 5.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
7. 7.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
10. 10.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the last speech (c) the topic statement (d) the timekeeper
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
12. 12.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
15. 15.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
20. 20.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the opposition
27. 27.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
35. 35.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
38. 38.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
40. 40.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition

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