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Public Speaking Worksheet: Speech Timing

Public speaking lesson 15: Timing a speech (words per minute) · Set 525 · 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.⏸️ 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
  2. 2.🎙️ In a practice run, Kabir said 480 words in 4 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  3. 3.🎙️ In a practice run, Ananya said 300 words in 2 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  4. 4.🎙️ In a practice run, Kabir said 330 words in 3 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  5. 5.🐢 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
  6. 6.✂️ Meera’s class presentation must fit in 4 minutes. Meera speaks at 100 words a minute and has written 420 words. How many words must be cut?
  7. 7.⏱️ Nisha reads a 240-word welcome speech at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  8. 8.⏱️ Saanvi reads a 60-word science fair talk at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  9. 9.⏱️ Ishaan reads a 300-word welcome speech at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  10. 10.⏱️ Nisha reads a 180-word competition speech at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  11. 11.⏱️ Arjun’s class presentation has 300 words. At 150 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  12. 12.⏱️ Why should you time your speech when you practise? (a) to fit the time limit (b) to tire yourself (c) to skip the ending (d) to speak faster
  13. 13.⏱️ Aarav speaks at 110 words a minute. How many words fit in a 3-minute assembly talk?
  14. 14.✂️ Rohan’s class presentation must fit in 3 minutes. Rohan speaks at 100 words a minute and has written 320 words. How many words must be cut?
  15. 15.⏱️ Aarav’s class presentation has 220 words. At 110 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  16. 16.✂️ Arjun’s class presentation must fit in 1 minute. Arjun speaks at 120 words a minute and has written 160 words. How many words must be cut?
  17. 17.⏱️ Rohan speaks at 130 words a minute. How many words fit in a 2-minute assembly talk?
  18. 18.⏱️ Meera’s competition speech has 420 words. At 140 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  19. 19.🎙️ In a practice run, Arjun said 700 words in 5 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  20. 20.⏱️ How many words can Aarav say in 3 and a half minutes at 120 words a minute?
  21. 21.✂️ Your speech is too long for the time limit. What should you do? (a) cut the weakest part (b) speak super fast (c) ignore the limit (d) skip the ending
  22. 22.⏱️ Aarav reads a 200-word class presentation at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  23. 23.⏱️ Aarav speaks at 120 words a minute. How many words fit in a 3-minute class presentation?
  24. 24.⏱️ Meera speaks at 150 words a minute. How many words fit in a 4-minute assembly talk?
  25. 25.⏱️ Aarav’s assembly talk has 200 words. At 100 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  26. 26.🎙️ In a practice run, Vihaan said 520 words in 4 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  27. 27.✂️ Ishaan’s class presentation must fit in 3 minutes. Ishaan speaks at 140 words a minute and has written 480 words. How many words must be cut?
  28. 28.⏱️ Ishaan’s debate speech has 750 words. At 150 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  29. 29.⏱️ How many words can Meera say in 1 and a half minutes at 120 words a minute?
  30. 30.🎙️ In a practice run, Meera said 400 words in 4 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  31. 31.✂️ Ananya’s debate speech must fit in 3 minutes. Ananya speaks at 120 words a minute and has written 400 words. How many words must be cut?
  32. 32.⏱️ Meera’s debate speech has 260 words. At 130 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  33. 33.🎙️ In a practice run, Aarav said 520 words in 4 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  34. 34.⏱️ Saanvi’s assembly talk has 440 words. At 110 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  35. 35.⏱️ Diya’s competition speech has 600 words. At 150 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  36. 36.⏱️ Kabir’s assembly talk has 420 words. At 140 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  37. 37.⏱️ Vihaan speaks at 140 words a minute. How many words fit in a 5-minute competition speech?
  38. 38.⏱️ How many words can Tara say in 1 and a half minutes at 100 words a minute?
  39. 39.✂️ Aarav’s class presentation must fit in 4 minutes. Aarav speaks at 150 words a minute and has written 680 words. How many words must be cut?
  40. 40.⏱️ Rohan speaks at 150 words a minute. How many words fit in a 5-minute welcome speech?

Answer key

  1. a little under the limit
  2. 120
  3. 150
  4. 110
  5. 120–150 words a minute
  6. 20
  7. 120
  8. 30
  9. 120
  10. 90
  11. 2
  12. to fit the time limit
  13. 330
  14. 20
  15. 2
  16. 40
  17. 260
  18. 3
  19. 140
  20. 420
  21. cut the weakest part
  22. 120
  23. 360
  24. 600
  25. 2
  26. 130
  27. 60
  28. 5
  29. 180
  30. 100
  31. 40
  32. 2
  33. 130
  34. 4
  35. 4
  36. 3
  37. 700
  38. 150
  39. 80
  40. 750

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