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Public Speaking Worksheet: Speech Timing

Public speaking lesson 15: Timing a speech (words per minute) · Set 45 · 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.⏱️ Aarav reads a 150-word debate speech at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  2. 2.✂️ Vihaan’s assembly talk must fit in 2 minutes. Vihaan speaks at 140 words a minute and has written 290 words. How many words must be cut?
  3. 3.⏱️ Ishaan reads a 120-word assembly talk at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  4. 4.✂️ Kabir’s assembly talk must fit in 2 minutes. Kabir speaks at 100 words a minute and has written 240 words. How many words must be cut?
  5. 5.⏱️ How many words can Rohan say in 3 and a half minutes at 140 words a minute?
  6. 6.⏱️ Aarav’s science fair talk has 420 words. At 140 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  7. 7.⏱️ Aarav speaks at 110 words a minute. How many words fit in a 3-minute class presentation?
  8. 8.⏱️ Why should you time your speech when you practise? (a) to speak faster (b) to skip the ending (c) to tire yourself (d) to fit the time limit
  9. 9.✂️ Your speech is too long for the time limit. What should you do? (a) ignore the limit (b) cut the weakest part (c) skip the ending (d) speak super fast
  10. 10.⏱️ Vihaan speaks at 100 words a minute. How many words fit in a 1-minute science fair talk?
  11. 11.✂️ Tara’s welcome speech must fit in 1 minute. Tara speaks at 150 words a minute and has written 170 words. How many words must be cut?
  12. 12.⏱️ Vihaan speaks at 120 words a minute. How many words fit in a 5-minute welcome speech?
  13. 13.⏱️ Ananya speaks at 110 words a minute. How many words fit in a 2-minute competition speech?
  14. 14.⏱️ Ishaan’s debate speech has 420 words. At 140 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  15. 15.⏱️ Rohan’s assembly talk has 700 words. At 140 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  16. 16.🐢 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
  17. 17.⏱️ Meera speaks at 100 words a minute. How many words fit in a 3-minute class presentation?
  18. 18.✂️ Meera’s class presentation must fit in 1 minute. Meera speaks at 100 words a minute and has written 110 words. How many words must be cut?
  19. 19.⏱️ Rohan reads a 150-word assembly talk at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  20. 20.⏱️ Diya’s competition speech has 900 words. At 150 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  21. 21.⏸️ Pauses and audience laughter take time too. So your speech should be… (a) exactly at the limit (b) a little under the limit (c) far over the limit
  22. 22.✂️ Kabir’s debate speech must fit in 1 minute. Kabir speaks at 110 words a minute and has written 170 words. How many words must be cut?
  23. 23.⏱️ Aarav’s science fair talk has 280 words. At 140 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  24. 24.⏱️ Aarav reads a 60-word assembly talk at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  25. 25.⏱️ Rohan reads a 100-word welcome speech at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  26. 26.✂️ Ananya’s class presentation must fit in 4 minutes. Ananya speaks at 110 words a minute and has written 460 words. How many words must be cut?
  27. 27.⏱️ How many words can Saanvi say in 2 and a half minutes at 140 words a minute?
  28. 28.🎙️ In a practice run, Ananya said 440 words in 4 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  29. 29.⏱️ Ishaan reads a 375-word debate speech at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  30. 30.⏱️ Ishaan speaks at 130 words a minute. How many words fit in a 4-minute science fair talk?
  31. 31.⏱️ Meera’s debate speech has 220 words. At 110 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  32. 32.⏱️ Ananya reads a 450-word science fair talk at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  33. 33.⏱️ Diya reads a 250-word class presentation at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  34. 34.⏱️ Ananya speaks at 140 words a minute. How many words fit in a 5-minute science fair talk?
  35. 35.⏱️ Ananya’s class presentation has 390 words. At 130 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  36. 36.⏱️ How many words can Ananya say in 1 and a half minutes at 140 words a minute?
  37. 37.⏱️ Ishaan’s competition speech has 260 words. At 130 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  38. 38.✂️ Kabir’s welcome speech must fit in 4 minutes. Kabir speaks at 140 words a minute and has written 570 words. How many words must be cut?
  39. 39.⏱️ Ananya reads a 200-word assembly talk at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  40. 40.🎙️ In a practice run, Arjun said 360 words in 3 minutes. How many words a minute is that?

Answer key

  1. 60
  2. 10
  3. 60
  4. 40
  5. 490
  6. 3
  7. 330
  8. to fit the time limit
  9. cut the weakest part
  10. 100
  11. 20
  12. 600
  13. 220
  14. 3
  15. 5
  16. 120–150 words a minute
  17. 300
  18. 10
  19. 60
  20. 6
  21. a little under the limit
  22. 60
  23. 2
  24. 30
  25. 60
  26. 20
  27. 350
  28. 110
  29. 150
  30. 520
  31. 2
  32. 180
  33. 150
  34. 700
  35. 3
  36. 210
  37. 2
  38. 10
  39. 120
  40. 120

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