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Public Speaking Worksheet: Speech Timing

Public speaking lesson 15: Timing a speech (words per minute) · Set 101 · 40 questions
TalentJR

Speaker's tip (Words = rate × minutes): Words = words per minute × minutes. Minutes = words ÷ words per minute. Words per minute = words ÷ minutes. Half a minute = half the rate: at 120 words a minute, 2 and a half minutes = 240 + 60 = 300 words. Seconds = words × 60 ÷ rate. Too long? Words to cut = words written − (rate × minutes). Stay a little under the limit for pauses and applause.

NameDateTime takenScore ___ / 40
  1. 1.⏱️ Saanvi reads a 100-word debate speech at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  2. 2.⏱️ Aarav’s assembly talk has 260 words. At 130 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  3. 3.✂️ Vihaan’s science fair talk must fit in 4 minutes. Vihaan speaks at 150 words a minute and has written 650 words. How many words must be cut?
  4. 4.⏱️ Nisha’s science fair talk has 500 words. At 100 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  5. 5.⏱️ Ananya reads a 450-word assembly talk at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  6. 6.⏸️ Pauses and audience laughter take time too. So your speech should be… (a) far over the limit (b) a little under the limit (c) exactly at the limit
  7. 7.⏱️ Kabir reads a 300-word debate speech at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  8. 8.⏱️ Meera reads a 180-word competition speech at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  9. 9.✂️ Ishaan’s welcome speech must fit in 4 minutes. Ishaan speaks at 110 words a minute and has written 520 words. How many words must be cut?
  10. 10.✂️ Aarav’s competition speech must fit in 3 minutes. Aarav speaks at 100 words a minute and has written 330 words. How many words must be cut?
  11. 11.🐢 Which is a comfortable speaking pace for most speeches? (a) 120–150 words a minute (b) 20–30 words a minute (c) 300–400 words a minute
  12. 12.⏱️ Saanvi speaks at 140 words a minute. How many words fit in a 1-minute science fair talk?
  13. 13.⏱️ Ishaan speaks at 140 words a minute. How many words fit in a 4-minute welcome speech?
  14. 14.⏱️ Nisha speaks at 110 words a minute. How many words fit in a 1-minute competition speech?
  15. 15.🎙️ In a practice run, Ananya said 400 words in 4 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  16. 16.⏱️ How many words can Kabir say in 2 and a half minutes at 140 words a minute?
  17. 17.⏱️ Rohan’s class presentation has 420 words. At 140 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  18. 18.✂️ Saanvi’s debate speech must fit in 1 minute. Saanvi speaks at 120 words a minute and has written 200 words. How many words must be cut?
  19. 19.✂️ Nisha’s assembly talk must fit in 1 minute. Nisha speaks at 150 words a minute and has written 160 words. How many words must be cut?
  20. 20.✂️ Kabir’s debate speech must fit in 3 minutes. Kabir speaks at 140 words a minute and has written 480 words. How many words must be cut?
  21. 21.⏱️ Tara reads a 150-word debate speech at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  22. 22.🎙️ In a practice run, Vihaan said 450 words in 3 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  23. 23.⏱️ Vihaan reads a 250-word assembly talk at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  24. 24.⏱️ Rohan reads a 150-word assembly talk at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  25. 25.⏱️ How many words can Meera say in 2 and a half minutes at 100 words a minute?
  26. 26.⏱️ Diya speaks at 110 words a minute. How many words fit in a 3-minute science fair talk?
  27. 27.✂️ Your speech is too long for the time limit. What should you do? (a) skip the ending (b) cut the weakest part (c) ignore the limit (d) speak super fast
  28. 28.✂️ Vihaan’s competition speech must fit in 4 minutes. Vihaan speaks at 100 words a minute and has written 430 words. How many words must be cut?
  29. 29.⏱️ How many words can Diya say in 1 and a half minutes at 140 words a minute?
  30. 30.⏱️ How many words can Vihaan say in 2 and a half minutes at 100 words a minute?
  31. 31.✂️ Saanvi’s assembly talk must fit in 3 minutes. Saanvi speaks at 130 words a minute and has written 400 words. How many words must be cut?
  32. 32.✂️ Vihaan’s assembly talk must fit in 2 minutes. Vihaan speaks at 120 words a minute and has written 260 words. How many words must be cut?
  33. 33.⏱️ Ishaan’s competition speech has 600 words. At 120 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  34. 34.⏱️ Ishaan reads a 150-word class presentation at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  35. 35.✂️ Ananya’s welcome speech must fit in 3 minutes. Ananya speaks at 150 words a minute and has written 460 words. How many words must be cut?
  36. 36.⏱️ Nisha’s debate speech has 600 words. At 100 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  37. 37.⏱️ Vihaan’s competition speech has 220 words. At 110 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  38. 38.⏱️ How many words can Aarav say in 3 and a half minutes at 140 words a minute?
  39. 39.✂️ Tara’s debate speech must fit in 2 minutes. Tara speaks at 110 words a minute and has written 250 words. How many words must be cut?
  40. 40.⏱️ Ananya reads a 100-word class presentation at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?

Answer key

  1. 60
  2. 2
  3. 50
  4. 5
  5. 180
  6. a little under the limit
  7. 180
  8. 90
  9. 80
  10. 30
  11. 120–150 words a minute
  12. 140
  13. 560
  14. 110
  15. 100
  16. 350
  17. 3
  18. 80
  19. 10
  20. 60
  21. 60
  22. 150
  23. 150
  24. 90
  25. 250
  26. 330
  27. cut the weakest part
  28. 30
  29. 210
  30. 250
  31. 10
  32. 20
  33. 5
  34. 60
  35. 10
  36. 6
  37. 2
  38. 490
  39. 30
  40. 60

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