Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 956 · 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 of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
5. 5.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) two sides to argue (c) no clear meaning (d) a hidden answer
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
8. 8.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
9. 9.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
10. 10.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
14. 14.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
15. 15.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
17. 17.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
18. 18.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
20. 20.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the audience
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
24. 24.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
26. 26.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
28. 28.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
33. 33.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
35. 35.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the judges
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
38. 38.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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