Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 94 · 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.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
2. 2.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
3. 3.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must prove the motion
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
9. 9.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) must prove 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 proposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the opposition
17. 17.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) one right answer (c) a hidden answer (d) two sides to argue
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
19. 19.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
20. 20.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
21. 21.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
25. 25.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
26. 26.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
27. 27.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the last speech (c) the topic statement (d) the timekeeper
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
33. 33.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the opposition
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
37. 37.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “This House…”
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition

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