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Public Speaking Worksheet: Speech Timing

Public speaking lesson 15: Timing a speech (words per minute) · Set 464 · 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.✂️ Ananya’s debate speech must fit in 1 minute. Ananya speaks at 110 words a minute and has written 120 words. How many words must be cut?
  2. 2.⏱️ Kabir reads a 240-word science fair talk at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  3. 3.⏱️ Aarav’s debate speech has 240 words. At 120 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  4. 4.⏱️ Tara speaks at 150 words a minute. How many words fit in a 2-minute competition speech?
  5. 5.⏱️ Meera reads a 300-word assembly talk at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  6. 6.⏱️ Ishaan speaks at 100 words a minute. How many words fit in a 1-minute welcome speech?
  7. 7.🎙️ In a practice run, Meera said 700 words in 5 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  8. 8.🐢 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
  9. 9.⏱️ Diya’s class presentation has 280 words. At 140 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  10. 10.⏱️ Saanvi speaks at 150 words a minute. How many words fit in a 5-minute debate speech?
  11. 11.⏱️ Why should you time your speech when you practise? (a) to speak faster (b) to skip the ending (c) to fit the time limit (d) to tire yourself
  12. 12.⏱️ Tara speaks at 140 words a minute. How many words fit in a 2-minute class presentation?
  13. 13.🎙️ In a practice run, Arjun said 700 words in 5 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  14. 14.⏱️ Saanvi’s class presentation has 520 words. At 130 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  15. 15.⏱️ Nisha reads a 50-word assembly talk at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  16. 16.✂️ Saanvi’s debate speech must fit in 3 minutes. Saanvi speaks at 120 words a minute and has written 420 words. How many words must be cut?
  17. 17.⏱️ Meera speaks at 150 words a minute. How many words fit in a 3-minute class presentation?
  18. 18.✂️ Nisha’s welcome speech must fit in 3 minutes. Nisha speaks at 130 words a minute and has written 470 words. How many words must be cut?
  19. 19.✂️ Your speech is too long for the time limit. What should you do? (a) speak super fast (b) skip the ending (c) cut the weakest part (d) ignore the limit
  20. 20.⏱️ Ananya reads a 150-word debate speech at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  21. 21.⏱️ How many words can Arjun say in 2 and a half minutes at 140 words a minute?
  22. 22.🎙️ In a practice run, Ananya said 550 words in 5 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  23. 23.⏱️ How many words can Rohan say in 1 and a half minutes at 120 words a minute?
  24. 24.✂️ Ananya’s debate speech must fit in 3 minutes. Ananya speaks at 140 words a minute and has written 440 words. How many words must be cut?
  25. 25.⏱️ Nisha’s assembly talk has 600 words. At 100 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  26. 26.⏸️ Pauses and audience laughter take time too. So your speech should be… (a) exactly at the limit (b) far over the limit (c) a little under the limit
  27. 27.✂️ Nisha’s welcome speech must fit in 1 minute. Nisha speaks at 130 words a minute and has written 190 words. How many words must be cut?
  28. 28.✂️ Aarav’s class presentation must fit in 2 minutes. Aarav speaks at 120 words a minute and has written 270 words. How many words must be cut?
  29. 29.⏱️ Rohan speaks at 140 words a minute. How many words fit in a 2-minute class presentation?
  30. 30.⏱️ Nisha speaks at 100 words a minute. How many words fit in a 2-minute class presentation?
  31. 31.⏱️ Ananya’s welcome speech has 300 words. At 100 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  32. 32.⏱️ How many words can Nisha say in 3 and a half minutes at 100 words a minute?
  33. 33.⏱️ Rohan speaks at 110 words a minute. How many words fit in a 4-minute competition speech?
  34. 34.⏱️ Meera speaks at 100 words a minute. How many words fit in a 1-minute competition speech?
  35. 35.✂️ Diya’s welcome speech must fit in 4 minutes. Diya speaks at 150 words a minute and has written 660 words. How many words must be cut?
  36. 36.🎙️ In a practice run, Rohan said 260 words in 2 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  37. 37.⏱️ Meera’s science fair talk has 330 words. At 110 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  38. 38.⏱️ Meera’s welcome speech has 660 words. At 110 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  39. 39.⏱️ Tara’s debate speech has 360 words. At 120 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  40. 40.✂️ Arjun’s science fair talk must fit in 2 minutes. Arjun speaks at 130 words a minute and has written 270 words. How many words must be cut?

Answer key

  1. 10
  2. 120
  3. 2
  4. 300
  5. 180
  6. 100
  7. 140
  8. 120–150 words a minute
  9. 2
  10. 750
  11. to fit the time limit
  12. 280
  13. 140
  14. 4
  15. 30
  16. 60
  17. 450
  18. 80
  19. cut the weakest part
  20. 90
  21. 350
  22. 110
  23. 180
  24. 20
  25. 6
  26. a little under the limit
  27. 60
  28. 30
  29. 280
  30. 200
  31. 3
  32. 350
  33. 440
  34. 100
  35. 60
  36. 130
  37. 3
  38. 6
  39. 3
  40. 10

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