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Debate Worksheet: Timing Sums

Debate lesson 11: Debate timing · Set 160 · 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 debate has 8 speakers who speak for 5 minutes each, plus 1 break of 2 minutes. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
  2. 2.🕒 A debate has 4 speakers who speak for 4 minutes each, plus 2 breaks of 2 minutes. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
  3. 3.🕒 A debate slot is 25 minutes. The judges need 7 minutes at the end, and 6 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
  4. 4.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 8 speakers speaks for 60 seconds. How many minutes is that 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 second speaker begin?
  6. 6.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 2 speakers speaks for 120 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
  7. 7.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 8 speakers speaks for 30 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
  8. 8.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 3 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the second speaker begin?
  9. 9.🕒 Why does a debate have a timekeeper? (a) to keep speeches fair (b) to ask questions (c) to judge content (d) to choose motions
  10. 10.✋ A speech is 7 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.🕒 How should you prepare a timed speech? (a) skip the ending (b) time it in practice (c) write it at the venue (d) guess on the day
  12. 12.🕒 A debate slot is 30 minutes. The judges need 6 minutes at the end, and 8 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
  13. 13.🕒 What should you do when the final bell rings? (a) start a new point (b) ignore it (c) speak faster (d) finish your sentence
  14. 14.🕒 A debate has 4 speakers who speak for 2 minutes each, plus 1 break of 2 minutes. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
  15. 15.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 2 speakers speaks for 60 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
  16. 16.🕒 A debate slot is 20 minutes. The judges need 8 minutes at the end, and 4 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
  17. 17.✋ 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?
  18. 18.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 4 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the third speaker begin?
  19. 19.✋ 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?
  20. 20.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 2 speakers speaks for 30 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
  21. 21.🕒 A speaker goes far over time. What usually happens? (a) they can lose marks (b) they get a bonus (c) they win (d) nothing at all
  22. 22.🕒 A debate slot is 28 minutes. The judges need 4 minutes at the end, and 6 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
  23. 23.🕒 A debate slot is 22 minutes. The judges need 10 minutes at the end, and 4 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
  24. 24.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 4 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the fifth speaker begin?
  25. 25.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 4 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the fourth speaker begin?
  26. 26.✋ 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?
  27. 27.🕒 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?
  28. 28.🕒 A debate has 4 speakers who speak for 5 minutes each, plus 2 breaks of 3 minutes. How many minutes does the debate take 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 second speaker begin?
  30. 30.🕒 A debate has 8 speakers who speak for 2 minutes each, plus 2 breaks of 2 minutes. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
  31. 31.🕒 A debate has 4 speakers who speak for 4 minutes each, plus 1 break of 2 minutes. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
  32. 32.🕒 A debate has 6 speakers who speak for 5 minutes each, plus 1 break of 1 minute. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
  33. 33.🕒 A debate slot is 36 minutes. The judges need 4 minutes at the end, and 8 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
  34. 34.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 3 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the fifth speaker begin?
  35. 35.🕒 A debate slot is 15 minutes. The judges need 3 minutes at the end, and 6 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
  36. 36.🕒 A debate has 6 speakers who speak for 5 minutes each, plus 2 breaks of 1 minute. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
  37. 37.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 2 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the fifth speaker begin?
  38. 38.🕒 A debate has 4 speakers who speak for 3 minutes each, plus 3 breaks of 2 minutes. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
  39. 39.🕒 A debate slot is 40 minutes. The judges need 10 minutes at the end, and 6 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
  40. 40.🕒 A debate has 6 speakers who speak for 3 minutes each, plus 3 breaks of 3 minutes. How many minutes does the debate take in all?

Answer key

  1. 42
  2. 20
  3. 3
  4. 8
  5. 2
  6. 4
  7. 4
  8. 3
  9. to keep speeches fair
  10. 5
  11. time it in practice
  12. 3
  13. finish your sentence
  14. 10
  15. 2
  16. 3
  17. 6
  18. 8
  19. 2
  20. 1
  21. they can lose marks
  22. 4
  23. 3
  24. 16
  25. 12
  26. 4
  27. 25
  28. 26
  29. 5
  30. 20
  31. 18
  32. 31
  33. 4
  34. 12
  35. 2
  36. 32
  37. 8
  38. 18
  39. 5
  40. 27

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