Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 962 · 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.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
4. 4.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
7. 7.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
8. 8.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
9. 9.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
12. 12.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “This House…”
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
14. 14.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
16. 16.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
17. 17.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the timekeeper (c) the topic statement (d) the last speech
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
19. 19.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
21. 21.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
22. 22.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
24. 24.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
25. 25.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
26. 26.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
28. 28.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
38. 38.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) no clear meaning (c) two sides to argue (d) one right answer
39. 39.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
40. 40.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion

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