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Public Speaking Worksheet: Speech Timing

Public speaking lesson 15: Timing a speech (words per minute) · Set 130 · 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.✂️ Your speech is too long for the time limit. What should you do? (a) skip the ending (b) ignore the limit (c) cut the weakest part (d) speak super fast
  2. 2.⏱️ Meera speaks at 100 words a minute. How many words fit in a 1-minute debate speech?
  3. 3.⏱️ Kabir’s assembly talk has 280 words. At 140 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  4. 4.⏱️ Ishaan reads a 300-word debate speech at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  5. 5.⏱️ Aarav speaks at 100 words a minute. How many words fit in a 4-minute science fair talk?
  6. 6.⏱️ Tara’s assembly talk has 600 words. At 150 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  7. 7.✂️ Ishaan’s assembly talk must fit in 4 minutes. Ishaan speaks at 110 words a minute and has written 450 words. How many words must be cut?
  8. 8.⏱️ Why should you time your speech when you practise? (a) to tire yourself (b) to skip the ending (c) to speak faster (d) to fit the time limit
  9. 9.⏱️ Saanvi speaks at 150 words a minute. How many words fit in a 2-minute debate speech?
  10. 10.⏱️ Vihaan reads a 75-word science fair talk at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  11. 11.⏱️ Meera speaks at 100 words a minute. How many words fit in a 1-minute science fair talk?
  12. 12.✂️ Saanvi’s welcome speech must fit in 4 minutes. Saanvi speaks at 120 words a minute and has written 550 words. How many words must be cut?
  13. 13.⏱️ Diya’s debate speech has 300 words. At 150 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  14. 14.⏱️ How many words can Tara say in 2 and a half minutes at 100 words a minute?
  15. 15.✂️ Kabir’s science fair talk must fit in 3 minutes. Kabir speaks at 110 words a minute and has written 360 words. How many words must be cut?
  16. 16.⏱️ Saanvi speaks at 120 words a minute. How many words fit in a 1-minute debate speech?
  17. 17.✂️ Meera’s competition speech must fit in 2 minutes. Meera speaks at 130 words a minute and has written 280 words. How many words must be cut?
  18. 18.🐢 Which is a comfortable speaking pace for most speeches? (a) 120–150 words a minute (b) 300–400 words a minute (c) 20–30 words a minute
  19. 19.✂️ Meera’s debate speech must fit in 2 minutes. Meera speaks at 110 words a minute and has written 240 words. How many words must be cut?
  20. 20.⏱️ How many words can Aarav say in 1 and a half minutes at 100 words a minute?
  21. 21.⏱️ Nisha’s competition speech has 550 words. At 110 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  22. 22.✂️ Tara’s welcome speech must fit in 4 minutes. Tara speaks at 110 words a minute and has written 520 words. How many words must be cut?
  23. 23.🎙️ In a practice run, Saanvi said 450 words in 3 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  24. 24.⏱️ Diya’s science fair talk has 220 words. At 110 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  25. 25.⏱️ Arjun’s debate speech has 720 words. At 120 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  26. 26.⏱️ Saanvi’s debate speech has 520 words. At 130 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  27. 27.⏱️ Rohan’s debate speech has 220 words. At 110 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  28. 28.⏱️ How many words can Arjun say in 1 and a half minutes at 140 words a minute?
  29. 29.⏱️ Vihaan reads a 200-word assembly talk at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  30. 30.✂️ Meera’s assembly talk must fit in 1 minute. Meera speaks at 120 words a minute and has written 200 words. How many words must be cut?
  31. 31.⏱️ Nisha’s welcome speech has 600 words. At 100 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  32. 32.✂️ Ishaan’s debate speech must fit in 2 minutes. Ishaan speaks at 120 words a minute and has written 280 words. How many words must be cut?
  33. 33.⏱️ Vihaan reads a 120-word assembly talk at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  34. 34.✂️ Rohan’s welcome speech must fit in 3 minutes. Rohan speaks at 110 words a minute and has written 370 words. How many words must be cut?
  35. 35.🎙️ In a practice run, Tara said 260 words in 2 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  36. 36.⏱️ Vihaan’s science fair talk has 300 words. At 100 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  37. 37.⏱️ Ananya speaks at 110 words a minute. How many words fit in a 5-minute science fair talk?
  38. 38.⏸️ Pauses and audience laughter take time too. So your speech should be… (a) far over the limit (b) exactly at the limit (c) a little under the limit
  39. 39.⏱️ Aarav’s competition speech has 220 words. At 110 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  40. 40.⏱️ Ishaan speaks at 140 words a minute. How many words fit in a 2-minute assembly talk?

Answer key

  1. cut the weakest part
  2. 100
  3. 2
  4. 180
  5. 400
  6. 4
  7. 10
  8. to fit the time limit
  9. 300
  10. 30
  11. 100
  12. 70
  13. 2
  14. 250
  15. 30
  16. 120
  17. 20
  18. 120–150 words a minute
  19. 20
  20. 150
  21. 5
  22. 80
  23. 150
  24. 2
  25. 6
  26. 4
  27. 2
  28. 210
  29. 120
  30. 80
  31. 6
  32. 40
  33. 60
  34. 40
  35. 130
  36. 3
  37. 550
  38. a little under the limit
  39. 2
  40. 280

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