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Public Speaking Worksheet: Speech Timing

Public speaking lesson 15: Timing a speech (words per minute) · Set 302 · 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.⏱️ Tara reads a 50-word debate speech at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  2. 2.⏱️ Ananya speaks at 110 words a minute. How many words fit in a 5-minute assembly talk?
  3. 3.⏱️ Vihaan’s assembly talk has 520 words. At 130 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  4. 4.⏱️ How many words can Kabir say in 1 and a half minutes at 100 words a minute?
  5. 5.⏱️ Nisha speaks at 130 words a minute. How many words fit in a 5-minute science fair talk?
  6. 6.⏱️ Why should you time your speech when you practise? (a) to skip the ending (b) to tire yourself (c) to fit the time limit (d) to speak faster
  7. 7.🐢 Which is a comfortable speaking pace for most speeches? (a) 120–150 words a minute (b) 20–30 words a minute (c) 300–400 words a minute
  8. 8.⏱️ Arjun reads a 300-word welcome speech at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  9. 9.⏱️ Nisha’s class presentation has 420 words. At 140 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  10. 10.⏱️ Diya speaks at 100 words a minute. How many words fit in a 3-minute class presentation?
  11. 11.⏱️ Vihaan speaks at 140 words a minute. How many words fit in a 1-minute science fair talk?
  12. 12.⏱️ How many words can Vihaan say in 2 and a half minutes at 100 words a minute?
  13. 13.⏱️ Diya reads a 240-word class presentation at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  14. 14.✂️ Diya’s science fair talk must fit in 2 minutes. Diya speaks at 130 words a minute and has written 270 words. How many words must be cut?
  15. 15.⏱️ Arjun speaks at 130 words a minute. How many words fit in a 4-minute class presentation?
  16. 16.⏱️ How many words can Nisha say in 2 and a half minutes at 120 words a minute?
  17. 17.⏱️ Vihaan speaks at 150 words a minute. How many words fit in a 2-minute class presentation?
  18. 18.⏱️ Kabir speaks at 130 words a minute. How many words fit in a 1-minute competition speech?
  19. 19.⏱️ Aarav’s debate speech has 400 words. At 100 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  20. 20.✂️ Vihaan’s class presentation must fit in 3 minutes. Vihaan speaks at 110 words a minute and has written 360 words. How many words must be cut?
  21. 21.✂️ Aarav’s class presentation must fit in 1 minute. Aarav speaks at 140 words a minute and has written 180 words. How many words must be cut?
  22. 22.🎙️ In a practice run, Diya said 300 words in 3 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  23. 23.⏱️ Tara reads a 75-word competition speech at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  24. 24.⏱️ Nisha speaks at 100 words a minute. How many words fit in a 1-minute assembly talk?
  25. 25.⏱️ Nisha’s welcome speech has 390 words. At 130 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  26. 26.⏸️ Pauses and audience laughter take time too. So your speech should be… (a) far over the limit (b) a little under the limit (c) exactly at the limit
  27. 27.⏱️ Tara reads a 100-word class presentation at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  28. 28.⏱️ Aarav’s science fair talk has 560 words. At 140 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  29. 29.⏱️ Nisha’s debate speech has 600 words. At 120 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  30. 30.⏱️ Kabir reads a 240-word welcome speech at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  31. 31.⏱️ Ishaan’s assembly talk has 360 words. At 120 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  32. 32.✂️ Your speech is too long for the time limit. What should you do? (a) cut the weakest part (b) speak super fast (c) skip the ending (d) ignore the limit
  33. 33.🎙️ In a practice run, Saanvi said 550 words in 5 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  34. 34.✂️ Vihaan’s assembly talk must fit in 4 minutes. Vihaan speaks at 120 words a minute and has written 490 words. How many words must be cut?
  35. 35.⏱️ How many words can Rohan say in 1 and a half minutes at 120 words a minute?
  36. 36.⏱️ Ananya speaks at 100 words a minute. How many words fit in a 2-minute competition speech?
  37. 37.⏱️ Vihaan’s assembly talk has 360 words. At 120 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  38. 38.⏱️ Kabir reads a 200-word debate speech at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  39. 39.⏱️ Kabir speaks at 140 words a minute. How many words fit in a 4-minute assembly talk?
  40. 40.⏱️ Aarav speaks at 100 words a minute. How many words fit in a 5-minute class presentation?

Answer key

  1. 30
  2. 550
  3. 4
  4. 150
  5. 650
  6. to fit the time limit
  7. 120–150 words a minute
  8. 180
  9. 3
  10. 300
  11. 140
  12. 250
  13. 120
  14. 10
  15. 520
  16. 300
  17. 300
  18. 130
  19. 4
  20. 30
  21. 40
  22. 100
  23. 30
  24. 100
  25. 3
  26. a little under the limit
  27. 60
  28. 4
  29. 5
  30. 120
  31. 3
  32. cut the weakest part
  33. 110
  34. 10
  35. 180
  36. 200
  37. 3
  38. 120
  39. 560
  40. 500

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