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Public Speaking Worksheet: Speech Timing

Public speaking lesson 15: Timing a speech (words per minute) · Set 157 · 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.🎙️ In a practice run, Tara said 550 words in 5 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  2. 2.⏱️ Meera’s class presentation has 260 words. At 130 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  3. 3.⏱️ Why should you time your speech when you practise? (a) to tire yourself (b) to skip the ending (c) to fit the time limit (d) to speak faster
  4. 4.🐢 Which is a comfortable speaking pace for most speeches? (a) 20–30 words a minute (b) 300–400 words a minute (c) 120–150 words a minute
  5. 5.⏱️ Arjun reads a 225-word welcome speech at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  6. 6.⏱️ Arjun’s debate speech has 360 words. At 120 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  7. 7.⏱️ Rohan speaks at 100 words a minute. How many words fit in a 1-minute debate speech?
  8. 8.⏱️ Rohan’s welcome speech has 520 words. At 130 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  9. 9.⏱️ How many words can Kabir say in 2 and a half minutes at 140 words a minute?
  10. 10.⏱️ How many words can Saanvi say in 2 and a half minutes at 120 words a minute?
  11. 11.🎙️ In a practice run, Meera said 560 words in 4 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  12. 12.⏸️ Pauses and audience laughter take time too. So your speech should be… (a) a little under the limit (b) far over the limit (c) exactly at the limit
  13. 13.⏱️ Ishaan speaks at 100 words a minute. How many words fit in a 3-minute debate speech?
  14. 14.✂️ Kabir’s welcome speech must fit in 3 minutes. Kabir speaks at 100 words a minute and has written 310 words. How many words must be cut?
  15. 15.✂️ Arjun’s competition speech must fit in 4 minutes. Arjun speaks at 120 words a minute and has written 490 words. How many words must be cut?
  16. 16.⏱️ Arjun’s assembly talk has 600 words. At 100 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  17. 17.✂️ Vihaan’s assembly talk must fit in 3 minutes. Vihaan speaks at 120 words a minute and has written 370 words. How many words must be cut?
  18. 18.⏱️ Rohan speaks at 150 words a minute. How many words fit in a 1-minute debate speech?
  19. 19.✂️ Ishaan’s assembly talk must fit in 2 minutes. Ishaan speaks at 150 words a minute and has written 350 words. How many words must be cut?
  20. 20.🎙️ In a practice run, Arjun said 390 words in 3 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  21. 21.⏱️ Aarav speaks at 140 words a minute. How many words fit in a 3-minute welcome speech?
  22. 22.✂️ Tara’s assembly talk must fit in 3 minutes. Tara speaks at 110 words a minute and has written 370 words. How many words must be cut?
  23. 23.⏱️ Saanvi reads a 60-word class presentation at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  24. 24.⏱️ Tara reads a 120-word competition speech at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  25. 25.🎙️ In a practice run, Arjun said 360 words in 3 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  26. 26.🎙️ In a practice run, Saanvi said 300 words in 3 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  27. 27.⏱️ Tara reads a 375-word welcome speech at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  28. 28.⏱️ Rohan speaks at 120 words a minute. How many words fit in a 3-minute class presentation?
  29. 29.✂️ Diya’s assembly talk must fit in 3 minutes. Diya speaks at 150 words a minute and has written 520 words. How many words must be cut?
  30. 30.✂️ Aarav’s competition speech must fit in 4 minutes. Aarav speaks at 110 words a minute and has written 450 words. How many words must be cut?
  31. 31.⏱️ Aarav reads a 120-word welcome speech at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  32. 32.⏱️ Vihaan speaks at 110 words a minute. How many words fit in a 1-minute class presentation?
  33. 33.✂️ Tara’s science fair talk must fit in 1 minute. Tara speaks at 100 words a minute and has written 160 words. How many words must be cut?
  34. 34.⏱️ How many words can Saanvi say in 3 and a half minutes at 100 words a minute?
  35. 35.🎙️ In a practice run, Saanvi said 520 words in 4 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  36. 36.⏱️ Diya’s class presentation has 280 words. At 140 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  37. 37.⏱️ Nisha speaks at 120 words a minute. How many words fit in a 5-minute assembly talk?
  38. 38.✂️ Your speech is too long for the time limit. What should you do? (a) skip the ending (b) ignore the limit (c) speak super fast (d) cut the weakest part
  39. 39.⏱️ Saanvi reads a 100-word assembly talk at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  40. 40.🎙️ In a practice run, Ananya said 440 words in 4 minutes. How many words a minute is that?

Answer key

  1. 110
  2. 2
  3. to fit the time limit
  4. 120–150 words a minute
  5. 90
  6. 3
  7. 100
  8. 4
  9. 350
  10. 300
  11. 140
  12. a little under the limit
  13. 300
  14. 10
  15. 10
  16. 6
  17. 10
  18. 150
  19. 50
  20. 130
  21. 420
  22. 40
  23. 30
  24. 60
  25. 120
  26. 100
  27. 150
  28. 360
  29. 70
  30. 10
  31. 60
  32. 110
  33. 60
  34. 350
  35. 130
  36. 2
  37. 600
  38. cut the weakest part
  39. 60
  40. 110

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