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Public Speaking Worksheet: Speech Timing

Public speaking lesson 15: Timing a speech (words per minute) · Set 507 · 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.🐢 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
  2. 2.⏱️ Aarav speaks at 140 words a minute. How many words fit in a 2-minute debate speech?
  3. 3.⏱️ Ananya reads a 300-word science fair talk at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  4. 4.⏱️ Ishaan reads a 60-word competition speech at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  5. 5.🎙️ In a practice run, Ananya said 330 words in 3 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  6. 6.✂️ Rohan’s assembly talk must fit in 1 minute. Rohan speaks at 130 words a minute and has written 190 words. How many words must be cut?
  7. 7.⏱️ Ishaan speaks at 140 words a minute. How many words fit in a 3-minute debate speech?
  8. 8.🎙️ In a practice run, Arjun said 550 words in 5 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  9. 9.⏱️ Ishaan’s debate speech has 520 words. At 130 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  10. 10.⏱️ How many words can Kabir say in 1 and a half minutes at 120 words a minute?
  11. 11.✂️ Saanvi’s class presentation must fit in 2 minutes. Saanvi speaks at 130 words a minute and has written 310 words. How many words must be cut?
  12. 12.⏱️ Why should you time your speech when you practise? (a) to tire yourself (b) to speak faster (c) to fit the time limit (d) to skip the ending
  13. 13.⏱️ Tara speaks at 100 words a minute. How many words fit in a 2-minute science fair talk?
  14. 14.⏱️ Tara’s welcome speech has 360 words. At 120 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  15. 15.⏱️ Ishaan’s welcome speech has 520 words. At 130 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  16. 16.✂️ Aarav’s competition speech must fit in 4 minutes. Aarav speaks at 150 words a minute and has written 640 words. How many words must be cut?
  17. 17.⏱️ Rohan’s debate speech has 600 words. At 150 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  18. 18.⏱️ Ananya’s class presentation has 600 words. At 120 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  19. 19.✂️ Nisha’s science fair talk must fit in 3 minutes. Nisha speaks at 120 words a minute and has written 390 words. How many words must be cut?
  20. 20.⏱️ Ananya reads a 180-word assembly talk at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  21. 21.⏱️ How many words can Arjun say in 1 and a half minutes at 120 words a minute?
  22. 22.⏱️ Tara’s competition speech has 450 words. At 150 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  23. 23.⏸️ 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
  24. 24.⏱️ Aarav speaks at 150 words a minute. How many words fit in a 2-minute competition speech?
  25. 25.⏱️ How many words can Meera say in 2 and a half minutes at 140 words a minute?
  26. 26.🎙️ In a practice run, Rohan said 400 words in 4 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  27. 27.⏱️ How many words can Meera say in 1 and a half minutes at 100 words a minute?
  28. 28.⏱️ Kabir reads a 120-word assembly talk at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  29. 29.✂️ Your speech is too long for the time limit. What should you do? (a) skip the ending (b) cut the weakest part (c) speak super fast (d) ignore the limit
  30. 30.✂️ Kabir’s science fair talk must fit in 1 minute. Kabir speaks at 100 words a minute and has written 140 words. How many words must be cut?
  31. 31.⏱️ Kabir reads a 150-word competition speech at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  32. 32.⏱️ Saanvi speaks at 140 words a minute. How many words fit in a 4-minute class presentation?
  33. 33.⏱️ Tara speaks at 140 words a minute. How many words fit in a 4-minute competition speech?
  34. 34.⏱️ Vihaan speaks at 120 words a minute. How many words fit in a 1-minute science fair talk?
  35. 35.⏱️ Aarav’s class presentation has 480 words. At 120 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  36. 36.✂️ Tara’s assembly talk must fit in 1 minute. Tara speaks at 130 words a minute and has written 160 words. How many words must be cut?
  37. 37.🎙️ In a practice run, Aarav said 500 words in 5 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  38. 38.✂️ Arjun’s welcome speech must fit in 4 minutes. Arjun speaks at 150 words a minute and has written 650 words. How many words must be cut?
  39. 39.⏱️ Vihaan’s science fair talk has 280 words. At 140 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  40. 40.⏱️ Nisha reads a 375-word competition speech at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?

Answer key

  1. 120–150 words a minute
  2. 280
  3. 120
  4. 30
  5. 110
  6. 60
  7. 420
  8. 110
  9. 4
  10. 180
  11. 50
  12. to fit the time limit
  13. 200
  14. 3
  15. 4
  16. 40
  17. 4
  18. 5
  19. 30
  20. 90
  21. 180
  22. 3
  23. a little under the limit
  24. 300
  25. 350
  26. 100
  27. 150
  28. 60
  29. cut the weakest part
  30. 40
  31. 60
  32. 560
  33. 560
  34. 120
  35. 4
  36. 30
  37. 100
  38. 50
  39. 2
  40. 150

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