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Public Speaking Worksheet: Speech Timing

Public speaking lesson 15: Timing a speech (words per minute) · Set 160 · 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.✂️ Meera’s assembly talk must fit in 4 minutes. Meera speaks at 100 words a minute and has written 410 words. How many words must be cut?
  2. 2.✂️ Aarav’s class presentation must fit in 2 minutes. Aarav speaks at 130 words a minute and has written 320 words. How many words must be cut?
  3. 3.⏱️ Tara reads a 225-word welcome speech at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  4. 4.⏱️ Kabir reads a 75-word science fair talk at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  5. 5.⏱️ Arjun speaks at 100 words a minute. How many words fit in a 3-minute competition speech?
  6. 6.⏱️ Meera’s competition speech has 200 words. At 100 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  7. 7.✂️ Your speech is too long for the time limit. What should you do? (a) skip the ending (b) speak super fast (c) cut the weakest part (d) ignore the limit
  8. 8.⏱️ How many words can Ananya say in 1 and a half minutes at 120 words a minute?
  9. 9.✂️ Ananya’s welcome speech must fit in 2 minutes. Ananya speaks at 120 words a minute and has written 270 words. How many words must be cut?
  10. 10.🎙️ In a practice run, Aarav said 220 words in 2 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  11. 11.✂️ Nisha’s assembly talk must fit in 4 minutes. Nisha speaks at 110 words a minute and has written 520 words. How many words must be cut?
  12. 12.🐢 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
  13. 13.⏱️ Meera’s competition speech has 900 words. At 150 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  14. 14.⏱️ Why should you time your speech when you practise? (a) to fit the time limit (b) to skip the ending (c) to tire yourself (d) to speak faster
  15. 15.🎙️ In a practice run, Vihaan said 300 words in 3 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  16. 16.⏱️ Diya speaks at 100 words a minute. How many words fit in a 4-minute debate speech?
  17. 17.✂️ Kabir’s assembly talk must fit in 3 minutes. Kabir speaks at 150 words a minute and has written 490 words. How many words must be cut?
  18. 18.⏱️ Arjun reads a 250-word class presentation at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  19. 19.🎙️ In a practice run, Saanvi said 440 words in 4 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  20. 20.⏱️ Aarav reads a 225-word science fair talk at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  21. 21.🎙️ In a practice run, Arjun said 480 words in 4 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  22. 22.✂️ Ishaan’s competition speech must fit in 3 minutes. Ishaan speaks at 100 words a minute and has written 330 words. How many words must be cut?
  23. 23.⏱️ Vihaan reads a 120-word class presentation at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  24. 24.⏱️ Nisha reads a 240-word assembly talk at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  25. 25.🎙️ In a practice run, Vihaan said 450 words in 3 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  26. 26.⏱️ Rohan’s assembly talk has 600 words. At 150 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  27. 27.⏱️ Rohan speaks at 110 words a minute. How many words fit in a 1-minute class presentation?
  28. 28.⏱️ Vihaan’s debate speech has 650 words. At 130 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  29. 29.⏱️ Ishaan speaks at 120 words a minute. How many words fit in a 2-minute assembly talk?
  30. 30.✂️ Aarav’s welcome speech must fit in 2 minutes. Aarav speaks at 100 words a minute and has written 210 words. How many words must be cut?
  31. 31.🎙️ In a practice run, Saanvi said 600 words in 4 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  32. 32.⏱️ Aarav reads a 180-word competition speech at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  33. 33.✂️ 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?
  34. 34.✂️ Meera’s class presentation must fit in 2 minutes. Meera speaks at 120 words a minute and has written 300 words. How many words must be cut?
  35. 35.⏱️ Meera’s science fair talk has 400 words. At 100 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  36. 36.⏸️ Pauses and audience laughter take time too. So your speech should be… (a) a little under the limit (b) exactly at the limit (c) far over the limit
  37. 37.⏱️ How many words can Nisha say in 2 and a half minutes at 120 words a minute?
  38. 38.🎙️ In a practice run, Meera said 240 words in 2 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  39. 39.⏱️ Tara reads a 150-word science fair talk at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  40. 40.⏱️ Kabir reads a 225-word class presentation at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?

Answer key

  1. 10
  2. 60
  3. 90
  4. 30
  5. 300
  6. 2
  7. cut the weakest part
  8. 180
  9. 30
  10. 110
  11. 80
  12. 120–150 words a minute
  13. 6
  14. to fit the time limit
  15. 100
  16. 400
  17. 40
  18. 150
  19. 110
  20. 90
  21. 120
  22. 30
  23. 60
  24. 120
  25. 150
  26. 4
  27. 110
  28. 5
  29. 240
  30. 10
  31. 150
  32. 90
  33. 40
  34. 60
  35. 4
  36. a little under the limit
  37. 300
  38. 120
  39. 60
  40. 90

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