Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 958 · 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) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
2. 2.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
4. 4.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
8. 8.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) no clear meaning (c) a hidden answer (d) two sides to argue
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
10. 10.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
11. 11.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
12. 12.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
13. 13.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
14. 14.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
15. 15.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the opposition
16. 16.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
18. 18.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
23. 23.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) must prove the motion
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the opposition
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the winner’s prize (c) the timekeeper (d) the topic statement
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
40. 40.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition

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