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Public Speaking Worksheet: Speech Timing

Public speaking lesson 15: Timing a speech (words per minute) · Set 307 · 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.⏱️ Ishaan reads a 375-word assembly talk at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  2. 2.⏱️ Meera reads a 100-word assembly talk at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  3. 3.⏱️ Rohan reads a 60-word welcome speech at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  4. 4.⏱️ Ananya reads a 75-word science fair talk at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  5. 5.⏱️ Saanvi’s science fair talk has 750 words. At 150 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  6. 6.✂️ Tara’s competition speech must fit in 1 minute. Tara speaks at 130 words a minute and has written 160 words. How many words must be cut?
  7. 7.✂️ Your speech is too long for the time limit. What should you do? (a) ignore the limit (b) cut the weakest part (c) speak super fast (d) skip the ending
  8. 8.✂️ Vihaan’s competition speech must fit in 3 minutes. Vihaan speaks at 120 words a minute and has written 380 words. How many words must be cut?
  9. 9.🎙️ In a practice run, Ishaan said 280 words in 2 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  10. 10.⏱️ Ananya reads a 150-word science fair talk at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  11. 11.🎙️ In a practice run, Ananya said 600 words in 5 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  12. 12.✂️ Tara’s debate speech must fit in 1 minute. Tara speaks at 110 words a minute and has written 180 words. How many words must be cut?
  13. 13.✂️ Tara’s competition speech must fit in 4 minutes. Tara speaks at 100 words a minute and has written 420 words. How many words must be cut?
  14. 14.⏱️ 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
  15. 15.⏸️ 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
  16. 16.⏱️ Rohan’s assembly talk has 280 words. At 140 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  17. 17.⏱️ Ananya speaks at 120 words a minute. How many words fit in a 1-minute assembly talk?
  18. 18.✂️ Nisha’s science fair talk must fit in 1 minute. Nisha speaks at 100 words a minute and has written 120 words. How many words must be cut?
  19. 19.⏱️ Diya speaks at 130 words a minute. How many words fit in a 1-minute assembly talk?
  20. 20.⏱️ Ananya speaks at 140 words a minute. How many words fit in a 2-minute welcome speech?
  21. 21.✂️ Diya’s competition speech must fit in 3 minutes. Diya speaks at 110 words a minute and has written 360 words. How many words must be cut?
  22. 22.⏱️ Tara reads a 240-word assembly talk at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  23. 23.⏱️ Diya speaks at 100 words a minute. How many words fit in a 1-minute science fair talk?
  24. 24.🎙️ In a practice run, Tara said 220 words in 2 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  25. 25.⏱️ Ananya speaks at 100 words a minute. How many words fit in a 4-minute assembly talk?
  26. 26.⏱️ Rohan reads a 300-word science fair talk at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  27. 27.⏱️ Meera speaks at 140 words a minute. How many words fit in a 5-minute welcome speech?
  28. 28.🎙️ In a practice run, Aarav said 480 words in 4 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  29. 29.⏱️ Ananya speaks at 150 words a minute. How many words fit in a 4-minute assembly talk?
  30. 30.⏱️ Saanvi speaks at 140 words a minute. How many words fit in a 4-minute class presentation?
  31. 31.🎙️ In a practice run, Arjun said 440 words in 4 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  32. 32.⏱️ Ananya speaks at 110 words a minute. How many words fit in a 3-minute assembly talk?
  33. 33.🎙️ In a practice run, Tara said 390 words in 3 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  34. 34.⏱️ Tara speaks at 130 words a minute. How many words fit in a 1-minute competition speech?
  35. 35.🐢 Which is a comfortable speaking pace for most speeches? (a) 300–400 words a minute (b) 120–150 words a minute (c) 20–30 words a minute
  36. 36.⏱️ Ishaan’s welcome speech has 700 words. At 140 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  37. 37.✂️ Tara’s science fair talk must fit in 3 minutes. Tara speaks at 120 words a minute and has written 390 words. How many words must be cut?
  38. 38.✂️ Kabir’s debate speech must fit in 1 minute. Kabir speaks at 100 words a minute and has written 150 words. How many words must be cut?
  39. 39.⏱️ Meera reads a 100-word science fair talk at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  40. 40.⏱️ Kabir reads a 300-word class presentation at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?

Answer key

  1. 150
  2. 60
  3. 30
  4. 30
  5. 5
  6. 30
  7. cut the weakest part
  8. 20
  9. 140
  10. 90
  11. 120
  12. 70
  13. 20
  14. to fit the time limit
  15. a little under the limit
  16. 2
  17. 120
  18. 20
  19. 130
  20. 280
  21. 30
  22. 120
  23. 100
  24. 110
  25. 400
  26. 150
  27. 700
  28. 120
  29. 600
  30. 560
  31. 110
  32. 330
  33. 130
  34. 130
  35. 120–150 words a minute
  36. 5
  37. 30
  38. 50
  39. 60
  40. 180

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