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Debate Worksheet: Timing Sums

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

Answer key

  1. they can lose marks
  2. to keep speeches fair
  3. 25
  4. 18
  5. 4
  6. 5
  7. 27
  8. 15
  9. 12
  10. 26
  11. 2
  12. 14
  13. 4
  14. 2
  15. 18
  16. time it in practice
  17. 5
  18. 1
  19. 6
  20. 9
  21. 5
  22. 4
  23. 2
  24. 3
  25. finish your sentence
  26. 20
  27. 2
  28. 4
  29. 18
  30. 4
  31. 18
  32. 43
  33. 41
  34. 2
  35. 6
  36. 49
  37. 20
  38. 8
  39. 15
  40. 12

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