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Debate Worksheet: Timing Sums

Debate lesson 11: Debate timing · Set 3 · 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 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?
  2. 2.🕒 A debate has 4 speakers who speak for 5 minutes each, plus 3 breaks of 2 minutes. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
  3. 3.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 5 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the fifth speaker begin?
  4. 4.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 4 speakers speaks for 60 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
  5. 5.✋ 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?
  6. 6.🕒 A debate has 8 speakers who speak for 2 minutes each, plus 1 break of 1 minute. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
  7. 7.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 2 speakers speaks for 60 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
  8. 8.🕒 A debate slot is 34 minutes. The judges need 10 minutes at the end, and 6 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
  9. 9.🕒 How should you prepare a timed speech? (a) time it in practice (b) write it at the venue (c) skip the ending (d) guess on the day
  10. 10.🕒 What should you do when the final bell rings? (a) speak faster (b) start a new point (c) finish your sentence (d) ignore it
  11. 11.🕒 A debate has 4 speakers who speak for 4 minutes each, plus 1 break of 3 minutes. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
  12. 12.🕒 A debate slot is 20 minutes. The judges need 4 minutes at the end, and 8 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
  13. 13.✋ 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?
  14. 14.🕒 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?
  15. 15.✋ 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?
  16. 16.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 2 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the second speaker begin?
  17. 17.🕒 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?
  18. 18.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 3 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the second speaker begin?
  19. 19.🕒 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?
  20. 20.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 4 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the second speaker begin?
  21. 21.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 5 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the sixth speaker begin?
  22. 22.🕒 A debate slot is 49 minutes. The judges need 9 minutes at the end, and 8 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
  23. 23.✋ 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?
  24. 24.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 6 speakers speaks for 60 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
  25. 25.🕒 A debate slot is 31 minutes. The judges need 7 minutes at the end, and 6 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
  26. 26.🕒 Why does a debate have a timekeeper? (a) to choose motions (b) to judge content (c) to keep speeches fair (d) to ask questions
  27. 27.🕒 A debate has 4 speakers who speak for 2 minutes each, plus 3 breaks of 2 minutes. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
  28. 28.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 8 speakers speaks for 120 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
  29. 29.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 2 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the third speaker begin?
  30. 30.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 8 speakers speaks for 30 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
  31. 31.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 6 speakers speaks for 30 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
  32. 32.🕒 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?
  33. 33.🕒 A debate has 6 speakers who speak for 3 minutes each, plus 3 breaks of 2 minutes. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
  34. 34.🕒 A debate slot is 47 minutes. The judges need 7 minutes at the end, and 8 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
  35. 35.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 2 speakers speaks for 30 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
  36. 36.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 4 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the sixth speaker begin?
  37. 37.🕒 A debate has 6 speakers who speak for 2 minutes each, plus 1 break of 2 minutes. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
  38. 38.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 4 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the fifth speaker begin?
  39. 39.🕒 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?
  40. 40.🕒 A debate has 6 speakers who speak for 4 minutes each, plus 1 break of 2 minutes. How many minutes does the debate take in all?

Answer key

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

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