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Public Speaking Worksheet: Speech Timing

Public speaking lesson 15: Timing a speech (words per minute) · Set 199 · 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, Ishaan said 750 words in 5 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  2. 2.✂️ Rohan’s debate speech must fit in 4 minutes. Rohan speaks at 130 words a minute and has written 600 words. How many words must be cut?
  3. 3.✂️ Tara’s competition speech must fit in 1 minute. Tara speaks at 110 words a minute and has written 140 words. How many words must be cut?
  4. 4.⏱️ How many words can Aarav say in 1 and a half minutes at 120 words a minute?
  5. 5.⏱️ Ananya’s debate speech has 260 words. At 130 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  6. 6.⏱️ Tara reads a 240-word assembly talk at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  7. 7.🎙️ In a practice run, Rohan said 280 words in 2 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  8. 8.⏱️ Aarav’s science fair talk has 450 words. At 150 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  9. 9.⏱️ Diya’s debate speech has 700 words. At 140 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  10. 10.⏱️ Diya speaks at 110 words a minute. How many words fit in a 4-minute debate speech?
  11. 11.🎙️ In a practice run, Meera said 650 words in 5 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  12. 12.⏱️ How many words can Vihaan say in 3 and a half minutes at 140 words a minute?
  13. 13.⏱️ How many words can Saanvi say in 2 and a half minutes at 100 words a minute?
  14. 14.🎙️ In a practice run, Aarav said 360 words in 3 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  15. 15.⏱️ Ananya reads a 50-word welcome speech at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  16. 16.⏱️ How many words can Ishaan say in 2 and a half minutes at 120 words a minute?
  17. 17.✂️ Saanvi’s debate speech must fit in 2 minutes. Saanvi speaks at 100 words a minute and has written 260 words. How many words must be cut?
  18. 18.⏸️ 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
  19. 19.⏱️ 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
  20. 20.⏱️ Meera’s debate speech has 200 words. At 100 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  21. 21.⏱️ How many words can Arjun say in 3 and a half minutes at 140 words a minute?
  22. 22.✂️ Meera’s competition speech must fit in 3 minutes. Meera speaks at 110 words a minute and has written 390 words. How many words must be cut?
  23. 23.⏱️ Arjun speaks at 110 words a minute. How many words fit in a 3-minute welcome speech?
  24. 24.🐢 Which is a comfortable speaking pace for most speeches? (a) 20–30 words a minute (b) 120–150 words a minute (c) 300–400 words a minute
  25. 25.⏱️ Diya speaks at 150 words a minute. How many words fit in a 5-minute debate speech?
  26. 26.🎙️ In a practice run, Nisha said 450 words in 3 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  27. 27.⏱️ Kabir reads a 375-word debate speech at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  28. 28.🎙️ In a practice run, Tara said 500 words in 5 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  29. 29.⏱️ Diya speaks at 130 words a minute. How many words fit in a 2-minute welcome speech?
  30. 30.⏱️ Nisha reads a 450-word science fair talk at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  31. 31.⏱️ Arjun’s assembly talk has 700 words. At 140 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  32. 32.⏱️ How many words can Rohan say in 3 and a half minutes at 140 words a minute?
  33. 33.⏱️ Ananya reads a 250-word competition speech at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  34. 34.⏱️ Aarav’s debate speech has 500 words. At 100 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  35. 35.⏱️ Rohan reads a 60-word welcome speech at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  36. 36.⏱️ Diya’s debate speech has 720 words. At 120 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  37. 37.⏱️ How many words can Diya say in 2 and a half minutes at 140 words a minute?
  38. 38.⏱️ Kabir reads a 100-word debate speech at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  39. 39.⏱️ Aarav’s debate speech has 420 words. At 140 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  40. 40.⏱️ Kabir’s assembly talk has 560 words. At 140 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?

Answer key

  1. 150
  2. 80
  3. 30
  4. 180
  5. 2
  6. 120
  7. 140
  8. 3
  9. 5
  10. 440
  11. 130
  12. 490
  13. 250
  14. 120
  15. 30
  16. 300
  17. 60
  18. a little under the limit
  19. to fit the time limit
  20. 2
  21. 490
  22. 60
  23. 330
  24. 120–150 words a minute
  25. 750
  26. 150
  27. 150
  28. 100
  29. 260
  30. 180
  31. 5
  32. 490
  33. 150
  34. 5
  35. 30
  36. 6
  37. 350
  38. 60
  39. 3
  40. 4

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