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Public Speaking Worksheet: Speech Timing

Public speaking lesson 15: Timing a speech (words per minute) · Set 423 · 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’s competition speech must fit in 4 minutes. Tara speaks at 140 words a minute and has written 610 words. How many words must be cut?
  2. 2.✂️ Your speech is too long for the time limit. What should you do? (a) speak super fast (b) cut the weakest part (c) skip the ending (d) ignore the limit
  3. 3.✂️ Meera’s debate speech must fit in 4 minutes. Meera speaks at 130 words a minute and has written 530 words. How many words must be cut?
  4. 4.⏱️ How many words can Nisha say in 3 and a half minutes at 100 words a minute?
  5. 5.⏱️ Nisha’s welcome speech has 280 words. At 140 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  6. 6.🐢 Which is a comfortable speaking pace for most speeches? (a) 300–400 words a minute (b) 20–30 words a minute (c) 120–150 words a minute
  7. 7.🎙️ In a practice run, Aarav said 300 words in 2 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  8. 8.⏱️ Vihaan speaks at 120 words a minute. How many words fit in a 4-minute competition speech?
  9. 9.✂️ Rohan’s debate speech must fit in 2 minutes. Rohan speaks at 150 words a minute and has written 380 words. How many words must be cut?
  10. 10.⏱️ Nisha reads a 300-word competition speech at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  11. 11.⏱️ Diya speaks at 110 words a minute. How many words fit in a 4-minute assembly talk?
  12. 12.⏱️ Diya’s class presentation has 750 words. At 150 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  13. 13.⏱️ Kabir speaks at 120 words a minute. How many words fit in a 1-minute competition speech?
  14. 14.⏱️ Why should you time your speech when you practise? (a) to tire yourself (b) to fit the time limit (c) to skip the ending (d) to speak faster
  15. 15.⏱️ Meera speaks at 110 words a minute. How many words fit in a 5-minute class presentation?
  16. 16.⏱️ Saanvi reads a 375-word competition speech at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  17. 17.⏱️ Ananya reads a 300-word science fair talk at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  18. 18.⏱️ Vihaan speaks at 100 words a minute. How many words fit in a 3-minute welcome speech?
  19. 19.⏱️ Saanvi speaks at 110 words a minute. How many words fit in a 2-minute assembly talk?
  20. 20.⏱️ Diya’s assembly talk has 360 words. At 120 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  21. 21.⏱️ Nisha’s class presentation has 750 words. At 150 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  22. 22.⏸️ 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
  23. 23.⏱️ Ishaan speaks at 100 words a minute. How many words fit in a 4-minute welcome speech?
  24. 24.✂️ Diya’s class presentation must fit in 3 minutes. Diya speaks at 130 words a minute and has written 450 words. How many words must be cut?
  25. 25.⏱️ Tara’s debate speech has 600 words. At 120 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  26. 26.⏱️ Ishaan reads a 200-word class presentation at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  27. 27.⏱️ Ishaan speaks at 140 words a minute. How many words fit in a 5-minute debate speech?
  28. 28.⏱️ Vihaan reads a 300-word assembly talk at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  29. 29.⏱️ Kabir’s debate speech has 840 words. At 140 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  30. 30.✂️ Diya’s science fair talk must fit in 1 minute. Diya speaks at 150 words a minute and has written 170 words. How many words must be cut?
  31. 31.⏱️ How many words can Aarav say in 1 and a half minutes at 120 words a minute?
  32. 32.✂️ Aarav’s welcome speech must fit in 1 minute. Aarav speaks at 130 words a minute and has written 150 words. How many words must be cut?
  33. 33.⏱️ How many words can Meera say in 2 and a half minutes at 140 words a minute?
  34. 34.⏱️ Vihaan’s class presentation has 300 words. At 100 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  35. 35.⏱️ Nisha’s competition speech has 360 words. At 120 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  36. 36.⏱️ Meera’s competition speech has 360 words. At 120 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  37. 37.✂️ Meera’s welcome speech must fit in 3 minutes. Meera speaks at 130 words a minute and has written 460 words. How many words must be cut?
  38. 38.⏱️ How many words can Diya say in 3 and a half minutes at 120 words a minute?
  39. 39.✂️ Ananya’s assembly talk must fit in 3 minutes. Ananya speaks at 110 words a minute and has written 390 words. How many words must be cut?
  40. 40.✂️ Arjun’s class presentation must fit in 1 minute. Arjun speaks at 100 words a minute and has written 150 words. How many words must be cut?

Answer key

  1. 50
  2. cut the weakest part
  3. 10
  4. 350
  5. 2
  6. 120–150 words a minute
  7. 150
  8. 480
  9. 80
  10. 120
  11. 440
  12. 5
  13. 120
  14. to fit the time limit
  15. 550
  16. 150
  17. 120
  18. 300
  19. 220
  20. 3
  21. 5
  22. a little under the limit
  23. 400
  24. 60
  25. 5
  26. 120
  27. 700
  28. 150
  29. 6
  30. 20
  31. 180
  32. 20
  33. 350
  34. 3
  35. 3
  36. 3
  37. 70
  38. 420
  39. 60
  40. 50

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