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Debate Worksheet: Timing Sums

Debate lesson 11: Debate timing · Set 1 · 40 questions
TalentJR

Debater's tip (Speakers × minutes + breaks): Total = speakers × minutes each + breaks × minutes each. Start of speaker k (no breaks) = (k − 1) × minutes each. Time each = (slot − judges’ time) ÷ speakers. POI time = speech minutes − 2 (first and last minute protected). Seconds ÷ 60 = minutes.

NameDateTime takenScore ___ / 40
  1. 1.🕒 A speaker goes far over time. What usually happens? (a) they get a bonus (b) they win (c) they can lose marks (d) nothing at all
  2. 2.🕒 A debate slot is 38 minutes. The judges need 8 minutes at the end, and 6 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
  3. 3.🕒 A debate has 6 speakers who speak for 5 minutes each, plus 3 breaks of 2 minutes. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
  4. 4.🕒 A debate has 6 speakers who speak for 2 minutes each, plus 2 breaks of 2 minutes. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
  5. 5.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 2 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the fourth speaker begin?
  6. 6.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 6 speakers speaks for 30 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
  7. 7.🕒 How should you prepare a timed speech? (a) write it at the venue (b) skip the ending (c) time it in practice (d) guess on the day
  8. 8.🕒 A debate has 8 speakers who speak for 3 minutes each, plus 1 break of 1 minute. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
  9. 9.🕒 Why does a debate have a timekeeper? (a) to ask questions (b) to choose motions (c) to keep speeches fair (d) to judge content
  10. 10.✋ A speech is 4 minutes long. The first minute and the last minute are protected (no points of information). For how many minutes can points of information be offered?
  11. 11.🕒 What should you do when the final bell rings? (a) speak faster (b) start a new point (c) ignore it (d) finish your sentence
  12. 12.🕒 A debate has 6 speakers who speak for 4 minutes each, plus 1 break of 1 minute. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
  13. 13.✋ A speech is 6 minutes long. The first minute and the last minute are protected (no points of information). For how many minutes can points of information be offered?
  14. 14.🕒 A debate slot is 44 minutes. The judges need 4 minutes at the end, and 8 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
  15. 15.🕒 A debate has 6 speakers who speak for 5 minutes each, plus 3 breaks of 1 minute. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
  16. 16.✋ A speech is 3 minutes long. The first minute and the last minute are protected (no points of information). For how many minutes can points of information be offered?
  17. 17.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 4 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the fifth speaker begin?
  18. 18.🕒 A debate has 6 speakers who speak for 4 minutes each, plus 3 breaks of 3 minutes. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
  19. 19.✋ A speech is 8 minutes long. The first minute and the last minute are protected (no points of information). For how many minutes can points of information be offered?
  20. 20.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 8 speakers speaks for 60 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
  21. 21.🕒 A debate has 6 speakers who speak for 2 minutes each, plus 1 break of 3 minutes. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
  22. 22.✋ A speech is 5 minutes long. The first minute and the last minute are protected (no points of information). For how many minutes can points of information be offered?
  23. 23.🕒 A debate has 6 speakers who speak for 5 minutes each, plus 3 breaks of 3 minutes. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
  24. 24.🕒 A debate has 8 speakers who speak for 2 minutes each, plus 2 breaks of 1 minute. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
  25. 25.🕒 A debate slot is 15 minutes. The judges need 7 minutes at the end, and 4 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
  26. 26.🕒 A debate has 6 speakers who speak for 4 minutes each, plus 2 breaks of 3 minutes. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
  27. 27.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 8 speakers speaks for 90 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
  28. 28.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 4 speakers speaks for 60 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
  29. 29.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 5 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the sixth speaker begin?
  30. 30.🕒 A debate has 8 speakers who speak for 5 minutes each, plus 1 break of 1 minute. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
  31. 31.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 2 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the second speaker begin?
  32. 32.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 2 speakers speaks for 120 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
  33. 33.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 3 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the second speaker begin?
  34. 34.🕒 A debate has 8 speakers who speak for 4 minutes each, plus 2 breaks of 1 minute. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
  35. 35.🕒 A debate slot is 17 minutes. The judges need 5 minutes at the end, and 4 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
  36. 36.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 3 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the fifth speaker begin?
  37. 37.🕒 A debate slot is 25 minutes. The judges need 5 minutes at the end, and 4 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
  38. 38.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 6 speakers speaks for 60 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
  39. 39.🕒 A debate slot is 24 minutes. The judges need 6 minutes at the end, and 6 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
  40. 40.🕒 A debate has 4 speakers who speak for 4 minutes each, plus 2 breaks of 1 minute. How many minutes does the debate take in all?

Answer key

  1. they can lose marks
  2. 5
  3. 36
  4. 16
  5. 6
  6. 3
  7. time it in practice
  8. 25
  9. to keep speeches fair
  10. 2
  11. finish your sentence
  12. 25
  13. 4
  14. 5
  15. 33
  16. 1
  17. 16
  18. 33
  19. 6
  20. 8
  21. 15
  22. 3
  23. 39
  24. 18
  25. 2
  26. 30
  27. 12
  28. 4
  29. 25
  30. 41
  31. 2
  32. 4
  33. 3
  34. 34
  35. 3
  36. 12
  37. 5
  38. 6
  39. 3
  40. 18

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