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Public Speaking Worksheet: Speech Timing

Public speaking lesson 15: Timing a speech (words per minute) · Set 411 · 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 225-word class presentation at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  2. 2.⏱️ Rohan speaks at 140 words a minute. How many words fit in a 1-minute competition speech?
  3. 3.✂️ Diya’s science fair talk must fit in 2 minutes. Diya speaks at 120 words a minute and has written 250 words. How many words must be cut?
  4. 4.✂️ Ananya’s welcome speech must fit in 2 minutes. Ananya speaks at 140 words a minute and has written 360 words. How many words must be cut?
  5. 5.⏱️ Meera speaks at 140 words a minute. How many words fit in a 3-minute debate speech?
  6. 6.🎙️ In a practice run, Ananya said 600 words in 4 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  7. 7.⏱️ Vihaan speaks at 140 words a minute. How many words fit in a 1-minute science fair talk?
  8. 8.⏱️ How many words can Saanvi say in 3 and a half minutes at 120 words a minute?
  9. 9.⏱️ How many words can Diya say in 3 and a half minutes at 100 words a minute?
  10. 10.⏱️ Aarav’s science fair talk has 480 words. At 120 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  11. 11.⏱️ Ishaan speaks at 100 words a minute. How many words fit in a 1-minute science fair talk?
  12. 12.⏱️ How many words can Ananya say in 3 and a half minutes at 120 words a minute?
  13. 13.⏱️ Ananya’s competition speech has 650 words. At 130 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  14. 14.⏱️ Saanvi speaks at 140 words a minute. How many words fit in a 4-minute assembly talk?
  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.⏱️ Diya’s assembly talk has 700 words. At 140 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  17. 17.⏱️ Nisha’s welcome speech has 300 words. At 100 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  18. 18.🎙️ In a practice run, Vihaan said 650 words in 5 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  19. 19.🎙️ In a practice run, Aarav said 280 words in 2 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  20. 20.⏱️ Kabir reads a 300-word debate speech at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  21. 21.⏱️ Vihaan speaks at 110 words a minute. How many words fit in a 5-minute welcome speech?
  22. 22.✂️ 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
  23. 23.⏱️ Ishaan speaks at 150 words a minute. How many words fit in a 3-minute welcome speech?
  24. 24.🎙️ In a practice run, Ananya said 520 words in 4 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  25. 25.⏱️ How many words can Vihaan say in 2 and a half minutes at 140 words a minute?
  26. 26.⏱️ How many words can Kabir say in 1 and a half minutes at 100 words a minute?
  27. 27.⏱️ Diya reads a 75-word assembly talk at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  28. 28.✂️ Tara’s competition speech must fit in 4 minutes. Tara speaks at 130 words a minute and has written 540 words. How many words must be cut?
  29. 29.⏱️ Arjun speaks at 100 words a minute. How many words fit in a 3-minute class presentation?
  30. 30.✂️ Diya’s class presentation must fit in 3 minutes. Diya speaks at 140 words a minute and has written 440 words. How many words must be cut?
  31. 31.🐢 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
  32. 32.✂️ Arjun’s assembly talk must fit in 1 minute. Arjun speaks at 100 words a minute and has written 140 words. How many words must be cut?
  33. 33.⏱️ Nisha speaks at 100 words a minute. How many words fit in a 2-minute welcome speech?
  34. 34.⏱️ How many words can Tara say in 1 and a half minutes at 140 words a minute?
  35. 35.⏱️ Vihaan’s assembly talk has 450 words. At 150 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  36. 36.⏱️ Vihaan speaks at 100 words a minute. How many words fit in a 1-minute science fair talk?
  37. 37.⏱️ Rohan’s competition speech has 600 words. At 100 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  38. 38.🎙️ In a practice run, Nisha said 600 words in 5 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  39. 39.✂️ Ananya’s science fair talk must fit in 4 minutes. Ananya speaks at 110 words a minute and has written 460 words. How many words must be cut?
  40. 40.✂️ Rohan’s science fair talk must fit in 3 minutes. Rohan speaks at 100 words a minute and has written 340 words. How many words must be cut?

Answer key

  1. 90
  2. 140
  3. 10
  4. 80
  5. 420
  6. 150
  7. 140
  8. 420
  9. 350
  10. 4
  11. 100
  12. 420
  13. 5
  14. 560
  15. a little under the limit
  16. 5
  17. 3
  18. 130
  19. 140
  20. 120
  21. 550
  22. cut the weakest part
  23. 450
  24. 130
  25. 350
  26. 150
  27. 30
  28. 20
  29. 300
  30. 20
  31. 120–150 words a minute
  32. 40
  33. 200
  34. 210
  35. 3
  36. 100
  37. 6
  38. 120
  39. 20
  40. 40

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