Public Speaking Worksheet: Speech Timing

Public speaking lesson 15: Timing a speech (words per minute) · Set 140 · 40 questions

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.

1. 1.🐢 Which is a comfortable speaking pace for most speeches? (a) 300–400 words a minute (b) 20–30 words a minute (c) 120–150 words a minute
2. 2.⏱️ Aarav reads a 300-word assembly talk at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
3. 3.⏱️ Vihaan’s debate speech has 240 words. At 120 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
4. 4.⏱️ Nisha’s science fair talk has 560 words. At 140 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
5. 5.⏱️ Kabir’s class presentation has 480 words. At 120 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
6. 6.🎙️ In a practice run, Ishaan said 440 words in 4 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
7. 7.✂️ Arjun’s debate speech must fit in 4 minutes. Arjun speaks at 110 words a minute and has written 490 words. How many words must be cut?
8. 8.⏱️ Why should you time your speech when you practise? (a) to speak faster (b) to fit the time limit (c) to skip the ending (d) to tire yourself
9. 9.⏱️ Rohan speaks at 110 words a minute. How many words fit in a 5-minute competition speech?
10. 10.⏱️ How many words can Kabir say in 1 and a half minutes at 100 words a minute?
11. 11.✂️ Your speech is too long for the time limit. What should you do? (a) ignore the limit (b) speak super fast (c) cut the weakest part (d) skip the ending
12. 12.⏱️ Tara’s assembly talk has 300 words. At 100 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
13. 13.✂️ Aarav’s welcome speech must fit in 4 minutes. Aarav speaks at 110 words a minute and has written 500 words. How many words must be cut?
14. 14.⏱️ Arjun speaks at 110 words a minute. How many words fit in a 2-minute debate speech?
15. 15.⏱️ Vihaan’s science fair talk has 300 words. At 100 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
16. 16.⏱️ Rohan speaks at 110 words a minute. How many words fit in a 3-minute assembly talk?
17. 17.⏸️ Pauses and audience laughter take time too. So your speech should be… (a) exactly at the limit (b) far over the limit (c) a little under the limit
18. 18.⏱️ Arjun’s welcome speech has 500 words. At 100 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
19. 19.⏱️ Kabir speaks at 110 words a minute. How many words fit in a 1-minute debate speech?
20. 20.🎙️ In a practice run, Nisha said 200 words in 2 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
21. 21.⏱️ How many words can Diya say in 3 and a half minutes at 140 words a minute?
22. 22.⏱️ Kabir’s science fair talk has 330 words. At 110 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
23. 23.⏱️ Ishaan reads a 75-word competition speech at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
24. 24.⏱️ How many words can Ishaan say in 1 and a half minutes at 140 words a minute?
25. 25.⏱️ How many words can Aarav say in 1 and a half minutes at 100 words a minute?
26. 26.✂️ Kabir’s debate speech must fit in 3 minutes. Kabir speaks at 130 words a minute and has written 430 words. How many words must be cut?
27. 27.⏱️ Ishaan’s welcome speech has 480 words. At 120 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
28. 28.⏱️ Diya speaks at 130 words a minute. How many words fit in a 3-minute competition speech?
29. 29.⏱️ How many words can Kabir say in 3 and a half minutes at 100 words a minute?
30. 30.⏱️ Nisha’s science fair talk has 260 words. At 130 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
31. 31.🎙️ In a practice run, Ananya said 520 words in 4 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
32. 32.⏱️ Aarav speaks at 120 words a minute. How many words fit in a 5-minute competition speech?
33. 33.✂️ Tara’s science fair talk must fit in 4 minutes. Tara speaks at 150 words a minute and has written 620 words. How many words must be cut?
34. 34.⏱️ Tara’s science fair talk has 900 words. At 150 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
35. 35.⏱️ Kabir’s competition speech has 500 words. At 100 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
36. 36.🎙️ In a practice run, Saanvi said 700 words in 5 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
37. 37.⏱️ Arjun’s welcome speech has 440 words. At 110 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
38. 38.🎙️ In a practice run, Vihaan said 500 words in 5 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
39. 39.⏱️ Diya’s welcome speech has 550 words. At 110 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
40. 40.⏱️ Meera’s science fair talk has 220 words. At 110 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?

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