Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 933 · 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) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
5. 5.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
6. 6.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
9. 9.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
11. 11.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
13. 13.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
15. 15.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
17. 17.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
18. 18.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
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.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
24. 24.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
29. 29.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
32. 32.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
39. 39.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False

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