Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 993 · 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 believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
3. 3.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
6. 6.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
7. 7.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
8. 8.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the proposition
9. 9.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
11. 11.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
13. 13.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
14. 14.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
15. 15.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
17. 17.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
19. 19.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) no clear meaning (c) a hidden answer (d) two sides to argue
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
24. 24.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
27. 27.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the winner’s prize (c) the last speech (d) the timekeeper
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
29. 29.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
30. 30.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
33. 33.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
36. 36.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
37. 37.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
38. 38.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion

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